Word of the Day: PROVENANCE
Inception or origin
provenance (noun) - the place of origin or source; where something comes from; the history of ownership of a work of art (also provenience) [prov-uh-nuhns]
BREAKDOWN: PRO- (forth) + VEN- (to come) + -ANCE (quality or state)
See also: coven, contravene, parvenu
“That’s why I love art... When you study the provenance of a piece, you’re seeing history. You learn what people wanted future generations to remember.” —Jodi Picoult
🎓🦅 The eagle has landed! Find out what’s changing in Bluebook in early 2026. Is a new practice test coming?
PRO- (forth) + VEN- (to come) gives us a word that literally means 'the coming forth' — the origin story. What I find interesting is how provenance has become specifically associated with art authentication. The story of where something came from became synonymous with whether it's legitimate.
Same VEN- root shows up in adventure (things coming at you), avenue (a coming to), and revenue (things coming back). All about movement and origins. The Jodi Picoult quote nails it — provenance isn't just about where something was, but what people wanted to survive them.