Etimology
Inherited from Middle English providen, from Latin prōvidēre (“to foresee, act with foresight”). Doublet of purvey.
verb
provide (third-person singular simple present provides, present participle providing, simple past and past participle provided)
To make a living; earn money for necessities.
To act to prepare for something.
To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate.
To give what is needed or desired, especially basic needs.
To furnish (with), cause to be present.
To make possible or attainable.
(obsolete, Latinism) To foresee, to consider in advance.
To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See provisor.
Examples
It is difficult to provide for my family working on minimum wage.
provide against disaster.
The contract provides that the work be well done.
I'll lend you the money, provided that you pay it back by Monday.
Don't bother bringing equipment, as we will provide it.
We aim to provide the local community with more green spaces.
Humans provided the animals with food and protection in exchange for which the animals provided the humans their milk, eggs, and—yes—their flesh.
Rome […] was generally well provided with corn.
He provides us with an alternative option.
Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit / As the kind, hospitable woods provide.
We have not been covetous, honourable fathers, to change, neither is it now any new lust that alters our affection, or old lothing, but those needful jealousies of state, that warn wiser princes hourly to provide their safety, and do teach them how learned a thing it is to beware of the humblest enemy; much more of those great ones, whom their own employed favours have made fit for their fears.
As for those that will make themselves a name with the multitude, or, to draw their rude and beastly claps, care not whose living faces they intrench with their petulant styles, may they do it without a rival, for me! I choose rather to live graved in obscurity, than share with them in so preposterous a fame. Nor can I blame the wishes of those severe and wise patriots, who providing the hurts these licentious spirits may do in a state, desire rather to see fools and devils, and those antique relics of barbarism retrieved, with all other ridiculous and exploded follies, than behold the wounds of private men, of princes and nations
provide such natives to the higher dignities of the church
Related words
related terms
provision