Etymologically
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provision

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pɹəˈvɪʒ.ən/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English provisioun, borrowed from Middle French provision and directly borrowed from Latin provisio (“foresight, preparation”),[2][3][4][5] from the past participle stem of prōvidēre (“to look ahead, foresee, attend to”) (see provide).[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Appointment to a church office not yet vacant: 1350–51 in the OED, before 1387 in Barnhart;[7][2] foresight, preparation, before 1398.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The action of providing beforehand is from 1456, and the supply of necessaries for a household or expedition from 1484.[7] Something provided, a supply, is from the mid-15th century,[3] and provisions, a supply of food, by about 1600.[3][4] In law, a clause in a statute or agreement is from the late 15th century.[3][4] The action of God in providing for his creatures is from about 1450.[7] The verb, to supply with necessaries, especially food, is from 1787.[3]

Timeline

  • 1350 – an ecclesiastical appointment.[7]
  • before 1398 – foresight.[2]
  • 1484 – a supply of necessaries.[7]
  • late 15th century – a legal clause.[3]
  • c. 1600 – provisions, food.[3]
  • 1787 – the verb.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The act of providing or supplying something.
  2. (provisions) Supplies of food and drink, especially for a journey.
  3. A condition or requirement in a legal document; a clause.
  4. Arrangements made for future needs: provision for old age.

Verb

  1. To supply with provisions.

Word family

  • provisioner
  • provisionless
  • reprovision
  • overprovision
  • preprovision
  • provisionary
  • unprovisioned

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press