providence

From Anglo-Norman providence, Middle French providence, and their source, Latin prōvidentia (“providence, foresight”), from the present participle of prōvidēre (“to provide”). Displaced native Old English foresċēawung.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒvɪdəns/

• Audio (US)

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providence (countable and uncountable, plural providences)

1. (now rare) Preparation for the future; good governance; foresight. [from 14th c.]
2. The careful governance and guidance of God (or another deity, nature, etc.). [from 14th c.]
   • 2021 February 18, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, “Public Safety”, in AAIB investigation to Alauda Airspeeder Mk II, (UAS, registration n/a) 040719‎, archived from the original on 19 September 2023:

     Constraining the area of a UAS’ operation does not provide protection to the public when there is no guarantee that a UA will remain within these confines. In this case the UA entered controlled airspace used by commercial aircraft and it could have crashed in a nearby densely populated area or at a large public event, both with a high potential for fatalities. As there was no control or influence over where it crashed, it was only down to providence that it crashed in a field 40 m away from occupied houses.

3. A manifestation of divine care or direction; an instance of divine intervention. [from 16th c.]
   • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 91:

     The idea was that a complete list of fully documented providences should be compiled as a cooperative venture which would cross denominational barriers.

4. Specifically, the prudent care and management of resources; thriftiness, frugality. [from 17th c.]

   His providence in saving for his old age is exemplary.

• Lake Providence
• provident

• divine

Learned borrowing from Latin prōvidentia.

• IPA^(key): /pʁɔ.vi.dɑ̃s/

• Audio

  (file)

providence f (plural providences)

1. providence

• providentiel

• pourvoir

• “providence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

providence oblique singular, f (nominative singular providence)

1. providence (manifestation of divine care or direction)