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. [A Latinism] B. Jonson.
6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor. Prescott.