provision
a clause in a legal instrument, a law, etc., providing for a particular matter; stipulation; proviso.
the providing or supplying of something, especially of food or other necessities.
arrangement or preparation beforehand, as for the doing of something, the meeting of needs, the supplying of means, etc.
something provided; a measure or other means for meeting a need.
a supply or stock of something provided.
provisions, supplies of food.
Ecclesiastical.
an appointment to an ecclesiastical office.
appointment by the pope to a see or benefice not yet vacant.
to supply with provisions.
Origin of provision
1synonym study For provision
word story For provision
The Old French noun comes from Latin prōvisiō (stem prōvisiōn- ) “an act or action of seeing ahead, foresight, provision (against something),” a derivative of the verb prōvidēre “to see ahead, in advance, or beforehand; consider or take steps in advance; exercise forethought or caution; supply, provide.” Prōvidēre is a verb formed from the Latin preposition and prefix pro, pro-, here meaning “forward, outward,” and the simple verb vidēre “to see, observe, witness, act with foresight, take care.” Thus, its meaning is “to see or act forward.”
The noun sense “an appointment to an ecclesiastical office, an appointment by the pope to a see or benefice not yet vacant” dates from the late 14th century. The plural noun provisions “a supply of food” dates from the mid-16th century. The verb sense “to supply with stores or provisions” is first recorded at the beginning of the 17th century; it is formed from the noun by functional shift (a change in grammatical function).
Other words for provision
1 | condition |
2 | catering, purveying |
6 | store, provender, stock |
Other words from provision
- pro·vi·sion·er, noun
- pro·vi·sion·less, adjective
- o·ver·pro·vi·sion, noun
- pre·pro·vi·sion, noun
- re·pro·vi·sion, verb
- self-pro·vi·sion, noun
- un·pro·vi·sioned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for provision
/ (prəˈvɪʒən) /
the act of supplying or providing food, etc
something that is supplied or provided
preparations made beforehand (esp in the phrase make provision for)
(plural) food and other necessities, esp for an expedition
(plural) food obtained for a household
a demand, condition, or stipulation formally incorporated in a document; proviso
the conferring of and induction into ecclesiastical offices
(tr) to supply with provisions
Origin of provision
1Derived forms of provision
- provisioner, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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