provant

comparative more provant · superlative most provant

1. obsoleteProvided for common or general use, as in an army; hence, common in quality, i.e. inferior.

   a poor provant rapier

   1598, Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act III, scene i

1. obsoleteuncountableprovisions; food

   One pease was a soldier's provant a whole day.

   c. 1612–1615?, John Fletcher, Francis Beaumont, revised by Philip Massinger, “Loves Cure or, The Martial Maid”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act II, scene i

   2 more examples

   His manner is to put three or foure ſtones into a ſpoone, and ſo putting them into his mouth together, ſvvallovvs them all dovvn one after another; […] [H]aving the advantage of this ſtrange vvay of alimony, he ſold his allovvance of provant at great rates; […]

   1653, John Bulwer, “Scene XVIII. Strange Inventions of Certain Nations in Ordering Their Armes, Hands and Nailes.”, in Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d; or, The Artificial Changling […], 2nd edition, London: […] William Hunt, →OCLC, pages 307–308

   When I want prouant wᵗʰ: Humfrie I sup, & when benighted, I repose in Powles wᵗʰ: waking soules, Yet neuer am affrighted. When I lack food, I go without it, and when benighted, I repose in St. Paul’s (graveyard) with ghosts, Yet am never scared.

   c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665)

present singular third person provants · participle present provanting · participle past provanted · past provanted

1. obsoletetransitiveTo supply with provisions; to provide for.

   ...should not only supply her inhabitants with plentiful purveyance of sustenance, but provant and victual moreover this monstrous army of strangers […]

   1599, Thomas Nash, Nashes Lenten Stuffe