Definitions

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

  • noun The function of an intendant; management.
  • noun An administrative office or district.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Intendancy; superintendence; direction; business management; specifically, in France, official superintending authority, or a body of official intendants, especially of the army.
  • noun Attention; care; guidance.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • We get an idea of the kind of imperial authority which attached to Voltaire's judgment, from the eagerness with which Turgot sought, without revealing his name, an opinion from Ferney as to the worth of a translation with which he lightened the heavy burden of his intendance at Limoges, a translation of the "Eclogues" and fourth book of the "Æneid" into French metric verse.

    Voltaire 2007

  • But to return from this digression: Mr. B — advised me to send a requete or petition to the chancellor of France, that I might obtain an order to have my books examined on the spot, by the president of Boulogne, or the procureur du roy, or the sub-delegate of the intendance.

    Travels through France and Italy 2004

  • Would the emerging professionalism of the era, as exemplified by military physicians, replace the more genteel expertise personified by the intendance?

    William B. McAllister - Fighting Reformers: The Debate over the Reorganization of The French Military Medical Service 1870-1889. William B. McAllister 1993

  • Five Marianist fathers conducted courses at the university, the school for nobles, the school for man = CFvres, the school of cadets, and that of the military intendance.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Infamy-Lapparent 1840-1916 1913

  • The service of military intendance is exercised by twelve bodies, having the function of direction and vigilance, and by twenty-four commissary sections, stationed with each commander of an army corps or of a division.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Infamy-Lapparent 1840-1916 1913

  • On his refusal to install the new magistrates appointed by Maupeou after the suppression of the Parliaments, he was transferred to the intendance of Provence and then to La Rochelle.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10: Mass Music-Newman 1840-1916 1913

  • "Tiens! not far from the front, don't know where exactly, where there's an ambulance clearing-station and a sous-intendance -- I met the reptile there."

    Under Fire: the story of a squad Henri Barbusse 1904

  • I pictured the streets of Quebec alive with people: the young seigneur set off with furs and silken sash and sword or pistols; the long-haired, black-eyed woodsman in his embroidered moccasins and leggings with flying thrums; the peasant farmer slapping his hands cheerfully in the lighted market-place; the petty noble, with his demoiselle, hovering in the precincts of the Chateau St. Louis and the intendance.

    The Project Gutenberg Complete Works of Gilbert Parker Gilbert Parker 1897

  • There was yet an hour before I was to go to the intendance.

    The Project Gutenberg Complete Works of Gilbert Parker Gilbert Parker 1897

  • I pictured the streets of Quebec alive with people: the young seigneur set off with furs and silken sash and sword or pistols; the long-haired, black-eyed woodsman in his embroidered moccasins and leggings with flying thrums; the peasant farmer slapping his hands cheerfully in the lighted market-place; the petty noble, with his demoiselle, hovering in the precincts of the Chateau St. Louis and the intendance.

    The Seats of the Mighty, Volume 2 Gilbert Parker 1897

Comments

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  • superintendence; supervision.

    Now I get the meaning behind superintendence or superintendent...

    Hey, we all make spelling errors now and than...could "intendance" be the dance employees do when the superintendent is not around?

    September 3, 2009