providence
See also: Providence
English
editEtymology
editFrom 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.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editprovidence (countable and uncountable, plural providences)
- (now rare) Preparation for the future; good governance; foresight. [from 14th c.]
- 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[1], 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.
- 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.
- Specifically, the prudent care and management of resources; thriftiness, frugality. [from 17th c.]
- His providence in saving for his old age is exemplary.
Related terms
editTranslations
editprudent care and management of resources; thriftiness
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careful guardianship exercised by a deity
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manifestation of divine care or direction
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See also
editFrench
editEtymology
editLearned borrowing from Latin prōvidentia.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editprovidence f (plural providences)
Derived terms
editRelated terms
editFurther reading
edit- “providence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Old French
editNoun
editprovidence oblique singular, f (nominative singular providence)
- providence (manifestation of divine care or direction)
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- English terms derived from Middle French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 3-syllable words
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- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
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- French terms borrowed from Latin
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- French terms derived from Latin
- French 3-syllable words
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- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French feminine nouns
- Old French lemmas
- Old French nouns
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