Etymology : Middle English, from Latin providEre, literally, to see:
ahead, from pro- forward + vidEre to see; more at PRO-, WIT
Pronunciation : pr&-vId
Function : verb
Date : 15th century
1. supply, furnish; give, grant; prepare for in advance; set, make arrangements. provide\pro*vide"\, v. i.
2. to procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; -- followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for the education of a child. government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants.
3. to stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work.provide \pro*vide"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. provided; p. pr. & vb. n. providing.] [l. providere, provisum; pro before + videre to see:
see vision, and cf. prudent, purvey.].
4. to look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare. "provide us all things necessary.".
5. to supply; to afford; to contribute. bring me berries, or such cooling fruit as the kind, hospitable woods provide.
6. to furnish; to supply; -- formerly followed by of, now by with. "and yet provided him of but one." taylor. "rome was well provided with corn.".
7. to establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.
8. to foresee.note: [a latinism] [obs.] jonson.
9. to appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. see:
provisor.provide v.
10. provide or furnish with; "we provided the room with an electrical heater"; "render assistence" [syn: supply, render, furnish].
11. provide what is desired or needed, esp. support, food or sustenance; "the hostess provided lunch for all the guests" [syn: supply, ply, cater].
12. determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), esp. by including a proviso condition; "the will provides that each child should receive half of the money".
13. mount or put up; "put up a good fight"; "offer resistance" [syn: put up, offer].
14. To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare.
15. To supply; to afford; to contribute.
16. To furnish; to supply; formerly followed by of, now by with.
17. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.
18. To foresee.
19. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant.
20. See Provisor.
21. To procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for the education of a child.
22. To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work. take measures in preparation for; "provide for the proper care of the passengers on the cruise ship" determine , especially by including a proviso condition or stipulation; "The will provides that each child should receive half of the money"; "The Constitution provides for the right to free speech" provide what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests" supply means of subsistence; earn a living; "He provides for his large family by working three jobs"; "Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon".
23. 1. If you provide something that someone needs or wants, or if you provide them with it, you give it to them or make it available to them. I'll be glad to provide a copy of this They would not provide any details The government was not in a position to provide them with food. = supply + provider providers pro·vid·er They remain the main providers of sports facilities.
24. If a law or agreement provides that something will happen, it states that it will happen. The treaty provides that, by the end of the century, the United States must have removed its bases see also:
provided, providing.