provision
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /pɹəˈvɪʒ.ən/
Forms: form: provisions
Etymology: From Middle English provisioun, from Old French provisïon, from Latin prōvīsiō (“preparation, foresight”), from prōvidēre (“provide”).
Senses: examples: text: [H]e hath preſerued all points of Humanity, in taking Order, and making Proviſion for the Releefe of Strangers diſtreſſed; whereof you have taſted.
ref: 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 17:
text: [Noah] Began to build a Veſſel of huge bulk, / Meaſur'd by Cubit, length, and breadth, and highth, / Smeared round with Pitch, and in the ſide a dore, / Contriv'd, and of proviſions laid in large / For Man and Beaſt: [...]
ref: 1674, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 307:
text: We have an infirm ſhip's company, and but five months proviſion, which muſt ſerve us to China unleſs we get a ſupply at Guam.
ref: 1728 [1721 March 17], William Betagh, A Voyage Round the World. Being an Account of a Remarkable Enterprize, Begun In the Year 1719, chiefly to cruiſe on the Spaniards in the great South Ocean. Relating the True hiſtorical Facts of that whole Affair: Teſtifyd by many imployd therein; and confirmd by Authorities from the Owners., London: T. Combes, →OCLC, page 151:
glosses: An item of goods or supplies, especially food, obtained for future use.
examples: text: Fiue dayes we do allot thee for prouision,
To shield thee from disasters of the world,
ref: c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
glosses: The act of providing, or making previous preparation.
examples: text: And as congressional Republicans were passing a very unpopular Trump agenda bill last month, Vice President JD Vance argued that its historic expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and new immigration enforcement provisions were so important that “everything else” was “immaterial.”
ref: 2025 July 13, Aaron Blake, “Trump’s mass deportation is backfiring”, in CNN:
glosses: Money set aside for a future event.
examples: text: We increased our provision for bad debts on credit sales going into the recession.
topics: accounting
business
finance
glosses: A liability or contra account to recognise likely future adverse events associated with current transactions.
examples: text: An arrest shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
text: Almost half of MEPs wanted to remove the new provisions' to expand the use of megatrucks but an amendment to do that failed to pass by just six votes.
ref: 2024 March 12, ETSC, ETSC:
topics: law
synonyms: condition
disposition
stipulation
glosses: A clause in a legal instrument, a law, etc., providing for a particular matter; stipulation; proviso.
topics: Catholicism
Christianity
Roman-Catholicism
glosses: Regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation.
examples: text: a papal provision
ref: 1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC:
glosses: A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation.
Derived terms: alternative provision
improvision
make provision for
overprovision
preprovision
provisionary
provisioner
provisionless
provisionment
reprovision
spendthrift provision
sunrise provision
sunset provision
transitional provision
underprovision
unprovision