Provine, prō-vīn′, v.i. to propagate a vine by layering, to form a plant for the next season at a distance from the original plant.
Provision, prō-vizh′un, n. act of providing: that which is provided or prepared: measures taken beforehand: a clause in a law or a deed: a rule for guidance: an appointment by the pope to a benefice not yet vacant: preparation: previous agreement: a store of food: provender.—v.t. to supply with provisions or food.—adjs. Provi′sional, Provi′sionary, provided for the occasion: temporary: containing a provision.—n. Provi′sional-judg′ment, a judgment given as far as the available evidence admits, but subject to correction under more light.—adv. Provi′sionally.—ns. Provi′sional-or′der, an order to do something granted by a secretary of state, which, when confirmed by the legislature, has the force of an act of parliament; Provi′sional-rem′edy, a means of detaining in safety a person or property until a decision upon some point in which they are concerned be come to; Provi′sion-mer′chant, a general dealer in articles of food. [Fr.,—L.,—provisus, pa.p. of providēre.]
Proviso, prō-vī′zō, n. a provision or condition in a deed or other writing: the clause containing it: any condition:—pl. Provisos (prō-vī′zōz).—adv. Provī′sorily.—adj. Provī′sory, containing a proviso or condition: conditional: making provision for the time: temporary. [From the L. law phrase proviso quod, it being provided that.]
Provisor, prō-vī′zor, n. one who provides: a purveyor: a person to whom the pope has granted the right to the next vacancy in a benefice.—Statute of Provisors, an act of the English parliament passed in 1351 to prevent the pope from exercising the power of creating provisors.
Provoke, prō-vōk′, v.t. to call forth: to summon: to excite or call into action: to excite with anger: to offend: (B.) to challenge.—n. Provocā′tion, act of provoking: that which provokes: any cause of danger.—adjs. Provoc′ative, Provoc′atory, tending to provoke or excite.—n. anything that stirs up or provokes.—n. Provoc′ativeness, the quality of being provocative.—adj. Provō′kable.—ns. Provōke′ment (Spens.), provocation; Provō′ker, one who, or that which, provokes, causes, or promotes.—adj. Provō′king, irritating.—adv. Provō′kingly.—The provocation, the sojourn of the Jews in the wilderness, when they provoked God. [Fr. provoquer—L. provocāre, pro, forth, vocāre, to call.]
Provost, prov′ost, n. the dignitary set over a cathedral or collegiate church: the head of a college: (Scotland) the chief magistrate of certain classes of burghs, answering to mayor in England: (Shak.) the keeper of a prison.—ns. Prov′ost-mar′shal (army), an officer with special powers for enforcing discipline and securing prisoners till brought to trial: (navy) an officer having charge of prisoners; Prov′ostry, a district under a provost; Prov′ostship, the office of a provost.—Lord Provost, the style of the chief magistrates of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and Dundee. [O. Fr. provost (Fr. prévôt), L. præpositus, pa.p. of præponĕre—præ, over, ponĕre, to place.]
Prow, prow, n. the forepart of a ship: the bow or beak. [Fr. proue (It. prua)—L. prora—Gr. prōra, a prow—pro, before.]
Prowess, prow′es, n. bravery, esp. in war: valour: daring.—adj. Prow (arch.), brave, valiant:—superl. Prow′est. [O. Fr. prou (Fr. preux), perh. from prod in prodesse, to do good.]
Prowl, prowl, v.i. to keep poking about: to rove about in search of prey or plunder.—n. (coll.) the act of prowling: a roving for prey.—n. Prowl′er.—adj. Prowl′ing.—adv. Prowl′ingly. [Prob. for progle=prokle, a freq. form of proke, to thrust; cf. Prog.]
Proximate, proks′i-māt, adj. nearest or next: without any one between, as a cause and its effect: having the most intimate connection: near and immediate.—adj. Prox′imal.—advs. Prox′imally; Prox′imately.—n. Proxim′ity, immediate nearness in time, place, relationship, &c.—adj. Prox′imo, (in) the next (month)—often written prox.—Proximate cause, a cause which immediately precedes the effect; Proximate object, immediate object. [L. proximus, next, superl. from prope, near.]