Provenance

How to spell provenance

10 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce provenance

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does provenance mean?

1. nounThe place of origin or the documented history of ownership of an object, especially a work of art or antique.

Provenance in a sentence

• The gallery refused to buy the painting without clear provenance.

• Each antique in the auction came with paperwork establishing its provenance.

Where does provenance come from?

Language of origin: French

Provenance comes from the French word provenance, meaning 'origin' or 'source', which was formed from the verb provenir, 'to come forth' or 'to arise'. That French verb descends directly from the Latin provenire, built from pro-, meaning 'forth' or 'forward', and venire, meaning 'to come'. The literal idea, then, is of something 'coming forth' from a particular place, which is exactly how the word came to describe the place or chain of ownership from which an object originates. English adopted it around the end of the eighteenth century, and it quickly settled into the worlds of art, antiques, and archaeology, where documenting where a piece has been is essential. The same venire root underlies a host of familiar English words such as 'venue', 'convene', and 'event', and noticing that shared 'ven' middle is a useful way to keep the spelling on track.

How the word is built

• pro- (forth)
• ven (from venire: to come)
• -ance (noun suffix)