providentia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [proː.wɪˈdɛn.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [pro.viˈdɛn.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

prōvidentia f (genitive prōvidentiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōvidēns (“foreseeing”) + -ia, from prōvideō “to foresee”, from prō- and videō (“to see”).^[2][1] Wiktionary compares prūdentia and suggests that Cicero may have coined it to render Ancient Greek πρόνοια (prónoia, “foresight, providence”).^[1] De Vaan traces ⟨videō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *wid-eh₁- (“to see”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is the Rhetorica ad Herennium, of foresight.^[2] Köbler dates it 86/82 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant foresight, forethought, providence, as in the Rhetorica ad Herennium; in Cicero the providence of the gods, a power that creates and directs the world; and in Livy the power of seeing in advance.^[2][5] Macrobius names Prōvidentia as a goddess.^[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means providence.^[6] Medieval Latin used it for guidance, management, care, a measure or provision.^[7] English providence (late 14th century) is from it.^[8]

Timeline

• 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of foresight.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of divine providence.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English providence is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. Foreknowledge.^[2][9]
2. Foresight, forethought.^[2]
3. Divine providence.^[2][6]
4. (Medieval Latin) Management, care; a provision.^[7]

Related words

• prōvidē
• prōvidēns
• prōvidenter
• prōvideō
• prōvidus
• prōvīsiō
• prōvīsō
• prōvīsor
• prōvīsus
• prūdentia
• videō
• English providence

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press