n. 1. Place of origin; derivation. 2. a. The history of the ownership of an object, especially when documented or authenticated. Used of artworks, antiques, and books. b. The records or documents authenticating such an object or the history of its ownership. [French, from provenant, present participle of provenir, to originate, from Old French, from Latin prōvenīre : prō-, forth; see PRO-1 + venīre, to come; see gwā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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