Search the Dictionary

vance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare. "Provide us all things necessary." Shak.

n condition; by stipulation; with the understanding; if; -- usually followed by that; as, provided that nothing in this act shall prejudice the rights of any person whatever. Provided the deductions are logical, they seem almost indifferent to their truth. G. H. Lewes.

act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation. Providence for war is the best prevention of it. Bacon.

preparing for future exigencies; cautious; economical; -- sometimes followed by of; as, aprovident man; an animal provident of the future. And of our good and of our dignity, How provident he is. Milton.

Effected by, or referable to, divine direction or superintendence; as, the providential contrivance of thing; a providential escape. -- Prov"i*den"tial*ly, adv.

In a provident manner.

The quality or state of being provident; carefulness; prudence; economy.

One who provides, furnishes, or supplies; one who procures what is wanted.

Not to provide; to fail to provide. [Obs.] Boyle.

Unforeseen; unexpected; not provided against; unprepared. [Obs.] All improvided for dread of death. E. Hall.

The quality of being improvident; want of foresight or thrift. The improvidence of my neighbor must not make me inhuman. L'Estrange.

Not provident; wanting foresight or forethought; not foreseeing or providing for the future; negligent; thoughtless; as, an improvident man. Improvident soldires! had your watch been good, This sudden mischief never could have fallen. Shak.

Improvidently. [R.]

In a improvident manner. "Improvidently rash." Drayton.

Too provident.

To provide beforehand. "The materials preprovided." Fuller.

To deprive of necessary provision; to unfurnish. Lest her . . . beauty unprovide my mind again. Shak.

Improvident. [Obs.] "Who for thyself art so unprovident.' Shak.

Provided with an abatis.

ition by growth, or by labor, has a right to the part or thing added, or the improvement (provided the thing is not changed into a different species). Thus, the owner of a cow becomes the owner of her calf.