provision

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin prōvīsiōn- (stem of prōvīsiō ) “a foreseeing,” equivalent to prōvīs(us) (past participle of prōvidēre “to foresee, look after, provide”) + -iōn- suffix; see origin at provide, -ion

6. See food.

The noun provision has many spellings in Middle English: provisioun, provicion, profiseon (and literally dozens of others); its meanings are “foresight, prudence, care.” The Middle English forms come partly from Latin prōvisiō and partly from Anglo-French provisione, provisioun, proveson, from Old French provision, provisïon “supply of materials or necessities, foresight, precaution.”
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).