province

The story

1. Latin · derived fromprōvincia
2. Old French · derived fromprovince
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromprovince
4. Middle English · inherited fromprovynce
5. English todayprovince

Inherited from Middle English provynce, from Anglo-Norman province, Old French province, from Latin prōvincia, seemingly corresponding to prō- (“forward”) + vinciō (“to bind, bind about, fetter, tie, fasten, surround, encircle”). Displaced Old English boldġetæl.

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A region of the earth or of a continent; a district or country.
• from 14th c. An administrative subdivision of certain countries, including Canada and China.
• from 14th c. An area outside Italy which is administered by a Roman governor or prefect.
• from 14th c. An area under the jurisdiction of an archbishop, typically comprising a number of adjacent dioceses.
• from 17th c. The parts of a country outside its national capital.
• from 17th c. An area of activity, responsibility or knowledge; the proper concern of a particular person or concept.