I. Foreseeing: “mens provida rerum futurarum,” Cic. Div. 2, 57, 117: “nec eum provida futuri, fefellit opinio,” Liv. 23, 36: “fati,” Tib. 2, 5, 12: “veri providus augur,” Ov. M. 12, 18: “nec futuri providus est nec praeteriti memor,” Sen. Ep. 66, 35.—
II. Cautious, circumspect, provident, prudent (syn.: “cautus, consideratus): homines parum cauti providique,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 40, 117: “animal hoc providum, sagax ... quem vocamus hominem,” id. Leg. 1, 7, 22: “orator prudens et providus,” id. Part. 5, 15: “dispice, ne sit parum providum, sperare ex aliis, quod tibi ipse non praestes,” Plin. Ep. 2, 10, 5: “auspex,” Hor. C. 3, 27, 8: “mens,” id. ib. 3, 5, 13; cf. “Ulixes,” id. Ep. 1, 2, 19.—
III. Caring or providing for, provident of: “natura consultrix et provida utilitatum oportunitatumque omnium,” Cic. N. D. 2, 22, 58: “rerum vestrarum providus,” Tac. A. 4, 38: “opera providae sollertisque naturae,” Cic. N. D. 2, 51, 28: provida cura ducis, Ov. F. 2, 60.—Hence, adv.: prōvĭdē , carefully, prudently (very rare): “provide eligere,” Plin. 10, 33, 50, § 97.