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provident

[prov-i-duh nt]
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adjective
  1. having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future.
  2. characterized by or proceeding from foresight: provident care.
  3. mindful in making provision (usually followed by of).
  4. economical; frugal; thrifty.
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Origin of provident

1400–50; Middle English < Latin prōvident- (stem of prōvidēns), present participle of prōvidēre to look out for, provide
Related formsprov·i·dent·ly, adverbprov·i·dent·ness, nounnon·prov·i·dent, adjectivenon·prov·i·dent·ly, adverbo·ver·prov·i·dent, adjectiveo·ver·prov·i·dent·ly, adverbo·ver·prov·i·dent·ness, nounun·prov·i·dent, adjectiveun·prov·i·dent·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. cautious, prudent.

Antonyms

1. careless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for provident

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Mr. Weston had not been a rich man, nor had he been a far-seeing, provident man.

    Life in London

    Edwin Hodder

  • Some of the provident produced bottles of oil of pennyroyal.

    The Rock of Chickamauga

    Joseph A. Altsheler

  • The squirrel is provident, but no more so than he is fastidious in the choice of his food.

  • It is well to be provident and I'd paid for my meal in more than money.

  • However, we are not a provident race, and we are not likely to become one.

    Mental Efficiency

    Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for provident

provident

adjective
  1. providing for future needs
  2. exercising foresight in the management of one's affairs or resources
  3. characterized by or proceeding from foresight
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Derived Formsprovidently, adverb

Word Origin

C15: from Latin prōvidens foreseeing, from prōvidēre to provide
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

Word Origin and History for provident

adj.

c.1400, from Latin providentem (nominative providens) "foreseeing, prudent," present participle of providere "to foresee" (see provide).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper