prōvĭdentĭa, ae, f. [provideo].
I Foresight , foreknowledge : providentia est, per quam futurum aliquid videtur ante quam factum sit, Cic. Inv. 2, 53, 160: timoris tormentum memoria reducit, providentia anticipat, Sen. Ep. 5, 9.—
II Foresight , forethought , forecast , precaution , providence (cf. prudentia): deorum providentiā mundum administrari, Cic. Div. 1, 51, 117; cf. id. N. D. 1, 8, 18; 2, 22, 58; Quint. 11, 1, 23: alterum ex providentiā timorem afferre solet, Sall. J. 7, 5: plurimum tibi et usus et providentiae superest, Plin. Ep. 3, 19, 9: jam te providentia deorum primum in locum provexerat, id. Pan. 10, 4.—With object. gen. : neque feriendi neque declinandi providentia, Tac. H. 4, 29: providentia filiorum suorum, Dig. 33, 1, 7 fin. —In plur.: agnosce bonitatem dei ex providentiis, Tert. adv. Marc. 2, 4 fin. —
B Transf.
1 The government of the world by infinite wisdom and foresight , providence (post-class.): tua, Pater, providentia gubernat, Vulg. Sap. 14, 3; id. Act. 24, 2.—
2 Providence , as a designation of the Deity (post-Aug.): vis illum (deum) providentiam dicere? recte dices, Sen. Q. N. 2, 45, 2: oratio, quā nihil praestantius homini dedit providentia, Quint. 1, 10, 7; 1, 12, 19; 6 praef. § 4; 5, 12, 19; 10, 1, 109; 12, 1, 2; Ap. Met. 6, 15, 1.—
3 Providentia, Providence , personified as a goddess , a transl. of the Gr. Πρόνοια, Macr. S. 1, 17.