Pro·vide v. t. [imp. & p. p. Provided; p. pr. & vb. n. Providing.]
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.”
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.]
6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor.
Pro·vid·ed conj. On 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.
Note: ☞ This word is strictly a participle, and the word being is understood, the participle provided agreeing with the whole sentence absolute, and being equivalent to this condition being previously stipulated or established.
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