proveditor
/prəʊˈvɛdɪtə/(also proveditore, provveditore)
noun
Frequently with capital initial. (A title given to) any of various officials of the Venetian Republic, Florence, and elsewhere in northern Italy, especially to a high-ranking civilian officer in charge of supplies, provisions, and artillery for the city or a dependency. Hence more generally: a governor, overseer, legate, inspector. Now historical.
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in William Thomas (d. 1554), scholar, administrator, and alleged traitor. From Italian provveditore, †proveditore provider, purveyor from provvedere + -itore, suffix forming agent nouns. Compare Italian regional (Piedmont) proveditor, (Milan) provveditor, and also (Venice) provedadore, provvedadore (now arch.).