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Entry 8 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Provide

/prə-vīdʹ/ · Pro·vide · IPA /pɹəˈvaɪd/
01 v. t. To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare.
imp. & p. p. Provided; p. pr. & vb. n. Providing
  1. 1.
    To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare.
  2. 2.
    To supply; to afford; to contribute.
    “Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit As the kind, hospitable woods provide.” — Milton.
  3. 3.
    To furnish; to supply; -- formerly followed by of, now by with.
  4. 4.
    To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.
  5. 5.
    To foresee.[Obs.]
  6. 6.
    To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor. See: Provisor
02 v. i. To procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger …
  1. 1.
    To procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; -- followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for the education of a child.
    “Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants.” — Burke.
  2. 2.
    To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work.