provident

Adjective

provident (comparative more provident, superlative most provident)

1. Possessing, exercising, or demonstrating great care and consideration for the future.
   • I saw your brother,
     Most provident in peril, bind himself,
     Courage and hope both teaching him the practise,
     To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
   • Since then that all kinde of Gaming serues but as gulphes to deuoure the substances of men, and to swallow them vp in beggerie, my counsell is vtterly either to refraine such pastimes, or if men are of such spirits that they must needes venture their money, then to be very prouident how they play...1608, Thomas Dekker, “Vincents Law”, in Nathaniell Butter, editor, The Belman of London, London

   Synonyms:

   cautious, foresightful, prudent

2. Showing care in the use of something (especially money or provisions), so as to avoid wasting it.
   • Grant us thy grace that we may be diligent in our businesse, just in our charges, provident of our time, watchfull in our dutie, carefull of every word we speak.1658, Jeremy Taylor, “A shorter forme of Morning prayer for a Family”, in R. Royston, editor, A Collection of Offices or Forms of Prayer in Cases Ordinary and Extraordinary, London
   • Ah! poor man, he was always more generous than provident, or he would not have left his daughter dependent on his relations.1794, Ann Ward Radcliffe, “Chapter 11”, in G.G. and J. Robinson, editor, The Mysteries of Udolpho, volume 1, London, page 294

   Synonyms:

   economical, frugal

3. Providing (for someone’s needs).
   • These advantages [the soil] receives from the culture of seeds, exclusive of the rest and manure, which is scattered upon it by that most provident of all cattle, sheep […]1794, George Rennie et al., General View of the Agriculture of the West Riding of Yorkshire, London: W. Bulmer, Appendix, No. 8, page 93
   • My clerk tells me they are weak from hunger—but this cannot be in such provident country, of rich tilth, when the very Hedgerows have been evidently dripping with fruit.1992, Adam Thorpe, Ulverton, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, published 1993, page 165