PROVIDENCE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Providence

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/prˈɑvədəns/ Listen

noun

Providence n.

The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation. "Providence for war is the best prevention of it."

Foresight; care; especially, the foresight and care which God manifests for his creatures; hence, God himself, regarded as exercising a constant wise prescience. "The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide."

(Theol.) A manifestation of the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures; an event ordained by divine direction. "He that hath a numerous family, and many to provide for, needs a greater providence of God."

Prudence in the management of one's concerns; economy; frugality. "It is a high point of providence in a prince to cast an eye rather upon actions than persons."

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Etymology of 'Providence'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Providence" Quotes from Famous Books

... And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness ...

— The Book Of Mormon - An Account Written By The Hand Of Mormon Upon Plates Taken - From The Plates Of Nephi • Anonymous

... getting things packed. But of late Sonya had been particularly sad and silent. Nicholas' letter in which he mentioned Princess Mary had elicited, in her presence, joyous comments from the countess, who saw an intervention of Providence in this meeting of the ...

— War and Peace • Leo Tolstoy

... or the associations of the town school, and he trusted to home influence to counteract any such dangers. Or perhaps more truly he dreaded lest his own reluctance might partly come from prejudice in favour of gentlemen and public schools: and that where a course seemed of absolute necessity, Providence became a guard in its seeming perils. Indeed, that which he disapproved in Mr. Ryder's school was more of omission than commission. It was that secularity was the system, rather than the substance ...

— The Pillars of the House, V1 • Charlotte M. Yonge

... stopped, dazed and bewildered at the bare suggestion. He gazed upon the vanishing figure of "mammy." Could she—could Katinka—have the least suspicion of the possibilities of this discovery? Or had Providence put the keeping of this secret into the hands of those who least understood its importance? For an instant he thought of running after her with a word of caution; but on reflection he saw that this might awaken her suspicion and precipitate ...

— From Sand Hill to Pine • Bret Harte

... that a year will see the End! and poor —-, tender, true, and brave! His letters to me are quite fine in telling about it. Mrs. Kemble wrote me word some two or three months ago that he was looking very old: no wonder. I am told that she keeps up her Spirits the better of the two. Ah, Providence might have spared 'pauvre et triste Humanite' that Trial, together with a few others which (one would think) would have made no difference to its Supremacy. 'Voila ma petite protestation respectueuse a la Providence,' as Madame ...

— Letters of Edward FitzGerald in Two Volumes - Vol. II • Edward FitzGerald

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