provider English · revision 7790

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1485}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɹəˈvaɪ.də(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /pɹəˈvaɪ.dɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an agent noun formed [[af|en|provide|-er]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who provides or supplies, a purveyor: about 1485 in HTOED, the 15th century in MWU, 1523 in the OED.^(HTOED)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who provides for a family, a breadwinner, is a special sense from 1862 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) ''The lion's provider'' is an old phrase.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) In northern English dialect ''a good provider'' was a working man who supported his family well.^(Wright 1898) A company providing a service, such as an Internet service provider, is a modern use.^(LDOCE 2009)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1485 – a supplier.^(HTOED)

+ * 1523 – in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1862 – a breadwinner.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or company that provides something, especially a [[service]].^(AHD)^(LDOCE 2009)

+ # A person who supports a family; a [[breadwinner]].^(AHD)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[preferred provider]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[provisioner]]

+ * [[purveyor]]

+ * [[provide]]

+ * [[provision]]

+ * [[providence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}