Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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}.] 1. 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.'' --Shak. 2. To supply; to afford; to contribute. Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit As the kind, hospitable woods provide. --Milton. 3. To furnish; to supply; -- formerly followed by of, now by with. ``And yet provided him of but one.'' --Jer. Taylor. ``Rome . . . was well provided with corn.'' --Arbuthnot. 4. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done. 5. To foresee. Note: [A Latinism] [Obs.] --B. Jonson. 6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See {Provisor}. --Prescott.
\Pro*vide"\, v. i. 1. 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. --Burke. 2. To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work.