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." . "Rome . . . Was well provided with corn." .
4. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.
5. To foresee.
6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor.
Origin: A Latinism.
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. "Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants." (Burke)
2. To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work.