purveyor
noun

- a person, organization, etc, that supplies food and provisions

- a person who spreads, repeats, or sells (information, lies, etc)

Collins Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "purveyor" has its roots in Middle English and comes from the Old French porveoir, meaning "to provide, procure, or supply." This Old French term derives from the Latin providere, which breaks down into pro- ("ahead") and videre ("to see"). The original sense was closely tied to foresight and preparation—literally, "to see ahead" or "to provide in advance.”

The verb porveoir evolved in Old French to include the act of acquiring and supplying resources, particularly in a formal or official capacity. From this, the noun purveour emerged, referring to someone who provided or procured goods or services.

By the 14th century, the term entered Middle English as purveour, meaning "a supplier" or "a steward responsible for procuring provisions. It was often used in administrative and royal contexts to describe officials responsible for gathering supplies or provisions for a household, army, or institution.

Over time, the meaning broadened to encompass anyone who supplies or furnishes goods, services, or information, often with an air of formality or exclusivity.

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PURVEYORS OF DISTINCTION

Historical examples of purveyors in royal courts include:

- France: Jean-Louis Fargeon was a perfumer to Marie Antoinette, and Marc-Etienne Janety served as a master goldsmith to Louis XVI.

- Russia: Fabergé provided jewelry to Nicholas II, and Smirnoff supplied vodka to the Russian Imperial Family.

- Denmark: Randers Handskefabrik supplied gloves to the Danish royal family, including Queen Marie Antoinett

- Portugal: Confeitaria Nacional provided confectionery to the Portuguese royal household from 1873 to 1910.

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SYNONYMS

agent, bearer, bringer, broker, carrier, caterer, chandler, contractor, courier,  dealer, deliverer, disburser, distributor, furnisher, go-between, hawker, merchant, middleman, monger, peddler, PURVEYOR, procurer, provider, provisioner, purchaser, quartermaster, redistributor, reseller, retailer, seller, shopkeeper, supplier, trader, trafficker, vendor, victualer, wholesaler

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“The internet: mankind's greatest PURVEYOR of cat videos and useless facts.”

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THANKS to Kurt, for suggesting today’s OWAD.

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