procurator n.

c. 1300, "bring about, cause, effect," from Old French procurer "care for, be occupied with; bring about, cause; acquire, provide" (13c.) and directly from Late Latin procurare "manage, take care of;" from pro "in behalf of" (see pro-) + curare "care for" (see cure (v.)).

The main modern sense of "obtain; recruit" (late 14c.) is via the meaning "take pains to get or bring about" (mid-14c.). It had broader meanings in Middle English: to procure to slay was "cause to be slain;" procure to break, "cause to be broken," etc. The meaning "to obtain (women) for sexual gratification" of others is attested from c. 1600. Related: Procured; procuring.

"one employed to manage the affairs of another," late 14c., contraction of procurator (c. 1300) "steward or manager of a household;" also "a provider" (see procurator). From late 14c. as "one who acts or speaks for another; spokesman, advocate;" early 15c. as "business manager or financial administrator of a church, college, holy order, etc." Related: Proctorial; proctorship.

late 14c., procurour, "advocate, spokesman," from Anglo-French procurour, Old French procureur (13c., Modern French procureur), from Latin procurator (see procurator). Meaning "contriver, one who or that which brings on or causes to be done" is from mid-15c. Specifically of one who supplies women to gratify the lusts of another from 1630s. Fem. form procuress (early 15c.) is shortened from Old French procureresse.