Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One that furnishes or sells something, especially food.
  • noun One that promulgates something.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Formerly, an officer of the medical department of the United States army, whose duty was to purchase supplies. The office was abolished in 1892.
  • noun One who purveys or provides; specifically, one who purveys victuals, or whose business it is to make provision for the table; one who supplies eatables for a number of persons; a caterer.
  • noun An officer who formerly provided or exacted provision for the king's household.
  • noun One who provides the means of gratifying lust; a procurer or procuress; a pimp; a bawd.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who provides victuals, or whose business is to make provision for the table; a victualer; a caterer.
  • noun engraving An officer who formerly provided, or exacted provision, for the king's household.
  • noun a procurer; a pimp; a bawd.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Someone who supplies what is needed, especially food.
  • noun historical, UK An officer who provided provisions for the king's household.
  • noun obsolete A procurer; a pimp.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone who supplies provisions (especially food)

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • After writing a slew of books and stories set in the Revelation Space universe, I was a little taken aback to find myself routinely described as a purveyor of dark, grim, pessimistic SF.

    Archive 2010-05-01 Blue Tyson 2010

  • In 2004, Mr. Huizenga and long-time business partner Steven Berrard bought a majority stake in Swisher, best known as a purveyor of pink urinal cakes.

    Wayne's New World Rolfe Winkler 2011

  • Better known as the purveyor of duvets and lampshades to the middle-classes, John Lewis now has high-end fashion in its sights, and on Wednesday will unveil a £10m revamp at its Oxford Street store in London.

    John Lewis profits bounce back as store defies gloomy climate 2010

  • He's better known as the purveyor of an interesting line of perfumes several of which I wear.

    $75 lipstick. Ann Althouse 2006

  • On investigation, it turned out that the purveyor was a Pole, who had smuggled himself into the camp in order to assassinate the General.

    In Those Days The Story of an Old Man Jehudah Steinberg

  • On investigation, it turned out that the purveyor was a Pole, who had smuggled himself into the camp in order to assassinate the General.

    In Those Days Steinberg, Jehudah 1915

  • Symantec, best known as the purveyor of the Norton antivirus software, is buying VeriSign's identity and authentication business for $1.28 billion cash.

    Latest News from Web 2.0 Journal 2010

  • It's some stretch to picture the caustic Cassavetes helping bring into being a children's story as pure-hearted as Up, while for all their common ground politically (McCarthy has spoken of his pride in being called a purveyor of "liberal guilt"), neither The Station Agent and The Visitor have the Loach-ist earnestness that tinges some of Sayles 'movies (and I say that as a fan of his).

    Culture | guardian.co.uk Danny Leigh 2010

  • It's some stretch to picture the caustic Cassavetes helping bring into being a children's story as pure-hearted as Up, while for all their common ground politically (McCarthy has spoken of his pride in being called a purveyor of "liberal guilt"), neither The Station Agent and The Visitor have the Loach-ist earnestness that tinges some of Sayles 'movies (and I say that as a fan of his).

    Culture | guardian.co.uk 2010

  • ChangeWave is probably best known as a purveyor of e-mail get-rich-quick investment tips.

    Applelinks.com 2008

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