Provide Means to See Ahead
To provide is to supply what is needed. The Latin means to look forward, which links it to providence and prudence.
To provide is to supply what is needed. The Latin *providere* means to foresee or look ahead, from *pro* and *videre*, to see. Providing is an act of foresight: you supply now what will be needed later. *Prudence* is the same word worn down, and *providence* is its religious cousin.
- To supply something. *Provide lunch.*
- To support financially. *He provides for his family.*
- To stipulate (legal). *The contract provides that notice must be given.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | provide | Provide details. |
| Past | provided | Lunch is provided. |
| Noun | provision | Provision of care. |
| Plural | provisions | Provisions for the journey. |
| Person | provider | A service provider. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The school provides all materials.Provide something to someone, or provide someone with something.
- Provided that you book early, it is cheap.Provided that means on condition that.
- They packed provisions for a week.Supplies, especially food.
The seeing family
- Provide — see ahead and supply
- Prudence — the same Latin word contracted
- Providence — foresight, and divine care
- Vision — from the same *videre*
- Evident — clearly seen
From Latin *providere*, to foresee, from *pro*, ahead, and *videre*, to see. *Prudent* is a contracted form of *provident*, so caution and foresight share a word.
Provided or providing?
Both work as conjunctions meaning on condition that. Provided that is slightly more formal.
Are prudence and providence related?
Yes. Both come from the Latin for foreseeing; prudence is simply the contracted form of provident.