| 释义 |
provident, a.|ˈprɒvɪdənt|
[ad. L. prōvidēns, -ēntem, pres. pple. of prōvidēre to provide. Cf. F. provident (16th c. in Godef.).]
1. Foreseeing; that has foresight of and makes provision for the future, or for some future event; exercising or characterized by foresight. provident society = friendly society (friendly a. 8). Also provident club.
1429Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 143 Provident, with Brutus Cassius; Hardy as Hector, whan tyme doth require. 1487[implied in providently 1]. 1548Udall Erasm. Par. Luke vi. 67 b, He is like to a prouident and circumspect builder, that buildeth his house, nor for a vain braggue or shewe onely. 1663Boyle Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos. i. ii. 50 By Solomon God sends the Sluggard to school to the Ant, to learn a provident Industry. 1694Addison Virg. Georg. iv. 189 Each provident of cold, in summer flies Thro' fields and woods to seek for new supplies. 1783Burke Affairs India Wks. XI. 315 The order..was (for its matter) provident and well considered. 1846Lit. Gaz. 7 Nov. 957/2 National Provident and Benevolent Institution. 1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest xxi, It was fortunate that Humphrey had been so provident in making so large a quantity of hay. 1858M. Tuckett Diary 12 Nov. (c 1975) 18 We betook ourselves to the Polytechnic where a stall awaited us, in the sale for the Provident Society. 1869Bradshaw's Railway Manual XXI. App. 98 The United Kingdom Railway Officers' and Servants' Association, and Railway Provident Society. 1968A. Bryant Hist. Brit. United Provident Assoc. 2 During the 'twenties and 'thirties many Provident Clubs became linked with particular hospitals. 1973P. Gosden Self-Help vi. 49 During the first half of May, 1836, petitions were received by the Commons from a number of societies in South Lancashire... These included..the Provident Society of Salford. 1978P. Sutcliffe Oxf. Univ. Press ii. xii. 63 He started a provident club for medical aid and a clothing club.
2. Economical; frugal, thrifty, saving.
1596Bp. W. Barlow Three Serm. iii. 133 Let the poore be prouident in a plentifull haruest. 1655Jer. Taylor Guide Devot. (1719) 54 Thou wilt be more provident of thy Time and of thy Talent. 1700Dryden Pal. & Arcite iii. 527 A Prince so gracious and so good, So just, and yet so provident of blood! 1743Bulkeley & Cummins Voy. S. Seas 124 If we are not exceedingly provident in Regard to serving out Provisions, we must all inevitably starve. 1888F. Hume Mme. Midas i. iii, He will always be poor, because he never was a provident man. |