From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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2. To supply; to afford; to contribute.
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Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit
As the kind, hospitable woods provide. --Milton.
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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.
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4. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as,
the contract provides that the work be well done.
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5. To foresee.
Note: [A Latinism] [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
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6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is
vacant. See Provisor. --Prescott.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Provide \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.
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Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to
provide for human wants. --Burke.
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2. To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement
provides for an early completion of the work.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
provide
v 1: give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the
room with an electrical heater" [syn: supply, provide,
render, furnish]
2: give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or
sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests"
[syn: provide, supply, ply, cater]
3: determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies),
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"
4: mount or put up; "put up a good fight"; "offer resistance"
[syn: put up, provide, offer]
5: make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be
attainable or cause to remain; "This leaves no room for
improvement"; "The evidence allows only one conclusion";
"allow for mistakes"; "leave lots of time for the trip";
"This procedure provides for lots of leeway" [syn: leave,
allow for, allow, provide]
6: 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" [syn: provide, bring home the bacon]
7: take measures in preparation for; "provide for the proper
care of the passengers on the cruise ship"