proving 
proving-ground (prtt'ving- ground), w. A 
ground or place used for firing proof charges 
in cannon, for testing powder, aud for making 
ballistic experiments. 
proving-hut (prd"viug-hut), M. Same as proof - 
house. E, H. K nil/lit. 
proving-press (pro"ving-pres), w. A press for 
testing the strength of iron girders, etc. 
proving-pump (pro'ving-punip), H. A special 
form of Force-pump combined with a pressure- 
gage for testing the strength of boilers, tubes, 
etc., by means of water-pressure. 
Provins rose. The cabbage-rose. Also Pro- 
vincial roue. See provincial?. 
provision (pro-vizh'on), w. [< F. provision = 
Pr. provisio == Sp. provision = Pg. provisao = 
It. provisione, < L. provisio(n-), a foreseeing, 
foresight, purveying, < providere, pp. provisus, 
foresee, provide: see provide.'] If. Foresee- 
ing; foresight. 
The direful spectacle of the wreck . . . 
I have with such provision In mine art 
So safely ordered. Shale. , Tempest, 1. 2. 28. 
2. The act of providing, or making previous 
preparation. 
live days we do allot thee, tor provision 
To shield thee from diseases of the world. 
Shall., Lear, 1. 1. 170. 
3. A measure taken beforehand; something 
arranged or prepared in advance; a prepara- 
tion; provident care. 
For great and horrible punishments be appointed for 
thleres, whereas, much rather, provision should have heen 
made that there were some means whereby they might 
get their living. Sir T. More, Utopia (tr. by Robinson), 1. 
To be Ignorant of evils to come, and forgetful of evils 
put, Is a merciful provision in nature. 
Sir T. Browne, Urn-burial, v. 
Marriage had always been her object; It was the only 
honourable provision for well-educated young women of 
small fortune. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, xxll. 
4. Accumulation of stores or materials before- 
hand ; a store or stock provided. 
There Is a store house In the Oltadell, wherein is kept 
provision of corne, oyle, and other things. 
Curyat, Crudities, I. 124. 
5. Specifically, a stock of food provided; hence, 
victuals; food; provender: usually in the plural. 
Provision! laid In large 
For man and beast. Milton, P. L., xl. 732. 
This first day I had not taken care to have any provision* 
brought, and desiring the man that was sent with me to 
bring me some bread! he went and brought me of such 
fare as they have, and I dined In the temple. 
Pococlce, Description of the East, I. 90. 
I had furnished the stranger Turks with water and pro- 
vision at my own expence, when crossing the desert. 
Bruce, Source of the N Mr. I. 191. 
6. In laic, a stipulation ; a rule provided ; a dis- 
tinct clause in an instrument or statute ; a rule 
or principle to be referred to for guidance: as, 
the provisions of law ; the provisions of the con- 
stitution. It is sometimes used of unwritten 
as well as of written laws and constitutions. 
Such persons would be within the genera] pardoning 
power, and also the special provision for pardon and am- 
nesty contained in this act. Lincoln, in Raymond, p. 202. 
All the three [archdeacons] had, by the prooisionsol the 
cathedral statutes, dispensation from residence whilst 
they were away at the schools. 
Stubb, Medieval and Modern His!., p. 140. 
7. pi. Certain early or medieval English stat- 
utes. See phrases below. 8. In eccles. lair, 
promotion to office by an ecclesiastical supe- 
rior; especially, appointment by the Pope to a 
see or benefice in advance of the next vacancy, 
setting aside the regular patron's right of nom- 
ination. Canonical provision consists of designation, 
collation or Institution, and installation. In the thir* 
teenth and fourteenth centuries the Pope made frequent 
provisions to bishoprics and livings in England, but these 
acts were strenuously resisted. See Statute oj Profilers, 
under provisor. 
The weakness of Fxlward II. and the exigencies of the 
papacy eintioldened Clement V. and his successors to 
apply to the episcopal sees the system of provision and 
reservation. Stulibt, Const Hist., | 884. 
Provisions made in the Exchequer. See statute of 
Jtutland, under Hatutc, Provisions of Merton, an Eng- 
lish statute of 1286-6 (20 Hen. III.), so called because 
made at Merton, relating to bastardy, dower, common of 
pasture, appearance by attorney In local courts, etc. Also 
called statute of Merton. Prov\tlora of Oxford, in Kng. 
MIL, certain articles enacted by the Parliament at Ox- 
ford In 1268. See Mad Parliament, under mod'. Pro- 
visions of the Barons, ur Provisions of Westmin- 
ster, in Kng. kilt., certain ordinances Issued by the barons 
In 1259, which provided for the reform of various abuses. 
= 8yn. 2. Provitlence, I'nulenee. See wisdom. 
provision (prt-vUh'gn), r. /. [< jirorision, n.] 
To provide with things necessary; especially, 
to supply with a store of food. 
It was also resolved to notify the Governor of .Sooth 
Carolina that he might expect an attempt would be made 
to provision the fort Lincoln, In Raymond, p. 140. 
4806 
provisional (pro-vizh'on-al), a. [= F. pro- 
I'lxioinifl == Sp. "Pg. provisional = It. prorisio- 
n/ili' ; as provision + -al.~] Provided for pres- 
ent need or for the occasion ; temporarily es- 
tablished ; temporary : as, a provisional regu- 
lation ; a provisional treaty. 
It was . . . agreed to name a provisional council, or re- 
gency, who should carry on the government, and provide 
for the tranquillity of the kingdom. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., IL 19. 
Provisional concession, in the parts of the United 
States acquired from Mexico, the first act of Mexican 
authorities in granting land. It was subject to further 
action, notably the definite location of the property, which 
was generally accomplished by the "extension of title" 
or "delivery of juridical possession." Provisional In- 
junction. Same as ad interim injunction (which see, 
under injunction). Provisional Judgment, a conclusion 
admitted for the time being, though affected with doubt 
which it is expected may be cleared up. Provisional 
remedy, In law, a remedy, as arrest, attachment, tem- 
porary injunction, and receiver, intended to restrain the 
person of the debtor or property In question until Judg- 
ment 
provisionally (pro-vizh'on-al-i), adv. In a 
provisional manner; by way of provision ; tem- 
porarily ; for a present exigency. 
The abbot of St. Martin . . . was born, . . . was bap- 
tised, and declared a man provisionally [till time should 
show what he would prove). 
Menage, quoted in Locke, Human Understanding, III. vi. 
15 26. 
provisionary (pro-vizh'on-a-ri), a. [< ML. 
provisionanus, n.J < L. provisio(n-), provision: 
see}>rovision.] 1. Provident ; making provision 
for the occasion. Shaftexbury. 
Public forms of prayer, . . . whose design Is of univer- 
sal extent, &nd provision/try for all public, probable, feared, 
or foreseen events. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 18S5X II. 274. 
2. Containing a provision; giving details of 
provisions. 
The preamble of this law, standing as it now stands, has 
the lie direct given to it by the provisionary part of the 
act. Burke, American Taxation. 
3. Provisional ; provided for the occasion ; not 
permanent. 
provision-car (pro-vizh'on-kftr), n. A railroad- 
car provided witn refrigerating apparatus for 
the preservation of perishable products during 
transportation. Cold air caused to circulate over Ice 
and over the articles to be kept cool is usually the means 
employed for cooling the substances. The Interiors of the 
cars are kept tightly closed, and are protected from ex- 
ternal heat by non-conducting materials. 
provision-dealer (pro-vizh'on-de"ler), . Same 
as provision-merchant, 
provisioner (pro-vizh'on-er), w. One who fur- 
nishes provisions or supplies. 
Among other provisionen who come to your house in 
Venice are those ancient peasant-women who bring fresh 
milk in bottles. Boa-ells, Venetian Life, vil. 
provision-merchant (pro-vizh'on-mer'chant), 
H. A general dealer in articles of food, as 
hams, butter, cheese, and eggs. 
proviso (pro- vi'zo), w. [So called from its being 
usually introduced in the original Latin word- 
ing by the word promo, 'it being provided'; L., 
abl. sing. neut. of provisus, pp. of provider?, 
provide: see provide. Cf. provided.] 1. A 
clause making what precedes conditional on 
what follows; a provision or article in a stat- 
ute, contract, or other writing, by which a con- 
dition is introduced ; a conditional stipulation 
that affects an agreement, law, grant, etc. 
He doth deny his prisoners. 
But with proviso and exception, 
That we at our own charge shall ransom straight 
His brother-in-law, the foolish Mortimer. 
Ao*., 1 Hen. IV., i. :i. >. 
I was to be the young gentleman's governor, but with a 
proviso that he should always be permitted to govern him- 
self. Ooldtmith, Vicar, xx. 
2. Xaut., a stern-fast or hawser carried to the 
shore, to steady a ship Trial by proviso, In law. a 
trial at the Instance of the defendant in a case In which the 
Rlalntiff, after issue joined, does not proceed to trial, when 
y the practice of the court he ought to have done so. 
Imp. Diet. Wllmot proviso. In U. S. hist., an amend- 
ment to a hill which appropriated money for the purchase 
of territory from Mexico during the course of the Mexican 
war. This amendment was Introduced In the House of 
Representatives in 1846 by Mr. Wllmot of Pennsylvania, 
and provided that slavery should never exist In any part 
nf such territory. It played a prominent part In subse- 
quent discussions. 
provisor < pro-vi'zor), n. [< ME. prorisour,< OF. 
prorisour, proviseur, F. proviseur = Sp. Pg. 
provisor = It. provrisore, < L. prorisor, a fore- 
seer, a provider, < providere, pp. provisu*. pro- 
vide: see proride.] If. One who provides; a 
purveyor ; a provider. 
The chief prorisor of our horse. Ford. 
2. A person who has the right, gained by man- 
date of the Pope, to be in future presented to 
provocative 
a benefice which is not vacant at the time of 
the grant. See provide, 6. In England, the ap 
pointment of provlsors was restrained by statutes of Rich- 
ard II. and Henry IV. 
Symonye and Cynyle selden and sworen 
That prcstes and vrtruisuun sholde prelates semen. 
Pier* Plowman (C), 111. 182. 
Provisor . . . here has the usual sense In which it Is em- 
ployed in our statutes, viz. one that sued to the Court of 
Home for a provision. A provision meant the providing 
of a bishop or any other person with an ecclesiastical liv- 
ing by the pope before the death of the actual incumbent. 
Pv-rx Plowman (ed. ski-at), II. 38, notes. 
Whoever disturbs any patron in the presentation to a 
living by virtue of any papal provision, such prorisor shall 
pay fine and ransom to the king at his will, and be Impris- 
oned till he renounces such provision. 
Blackttnne, Com., IV. vlll. 
Statute of Pro visors, an English statute of 1351, design- 
ed to prevent the Pope from exercising the right of provi- 
sion in England. Subsequent statutes of 1390 and other 
years, in furtherance of the same design, are known by the 
same name. 
provisorily (pro-vi'zor-i-li), adr. In a provi- 
sory manner ; conditionally. 
This doctrine . . . can only, therefore, be admitted pro- 
visorily. Sir W. Hamilton. 
provisorshipt (pro-vi'zqr-ship), n. [< prorisor 
+ -ship.] The office of provisor. 
A worthy fellow h' is ; pray let me entreat for 
The provifonhip of your horse. 
Webster, Duchess of Main, I. 2. 
provisory (pro-vi'zor-i), a. [= F. provisoire = 
Sp. Pg. provisorio == It. provvisorio, < L. as if 
'provisorius, < providere, provide (> prorisor, a 
provider): see provide, provisor.] 1. Serving to 
provide for the time ; temporary; provisional. 
A new omnipotent unknown of democracy was coming 
Into being. In presence of which no Versailles Govern- 
ment either could or should, except in a provisory charac- 
ter, continue extant. Carlyle, French Rev., I. Iv. 1. 
2. Containing a proviso or condition; condi- 
tional Provisory hoop. SeeAoopi. 
provocable (pro-vo'ka-bl), a. [< LL. provoat- 
hilis, excitable, < L. provocare, call forth, ex- 
cite : see prorate.] Same as provokable. 
provocation (prov-o-ka'shon), . [< ME. pro- 
rocarion, < O. provocation, provocacion, F. pro- 
vocation = Sp. provocacion = Pg. provocaq&o = 
It. provocazione, < L. prorocatio(n-), a calling 
forth, a challenge, summoning, citation, < pro- 
roeattis, pp. of provocare, call forth, call out: 
see i provoke.] 1. The act of provoking or ex- 
citing anger or vexation. 
The unjust provocation by a wife of her husband, In 
consequence of which she suffers from his ill usage, will 
not entitle her to a divorce on the ground of cruelty. 
Bwaitr. 
2. Anything that excites anger; a cause of 
anger or resentment. 
By meanes of provocacion on eyther party vsed, the Ro- 
maynes issued oute of the cytie and gaue batayl to the 
Prytons. Fabyan, Chron., I. Ixlv. 
For when I had brought them into the land, . . . there 
they presented the provocation of their offering |i. ., to 
false gods|. Eiek. xx. 28. 
O the enormous crime 
Caused by no provocation in the world ! 
Brovning, Ring and liook, I. 199. 
3t. An appeal to a court or judge. 
Nought with stondyng that I herde nevere of this matter 
no maner lykly ne credible evidence unto that I sey your 
lettre and the Instrument, yet I made an appell and a 
procuracie, and also a provocacion, at London, longebifom 
Crlstemasse. Pastnn Letters, I. 25. 
A provocation is every act whereby theofftce of the judge 
or his assistance Is asked : a provocation including both a 
judicial and an extrajudiclal appeal. Ayliffe, Paragon. 
4. Incitement ; stimulus. 
I thought It but my duty to add some further spur of 
limrorntiiin to them that run well already. 
John Robinson, in New England's Memorial, p. 25. 
It Is worth the expense of youthful days and costly 
hours if you learn only some words of an ancient language, 
which are raised out of the trivlalness of the street to be 
perpetual suggestions and provocations. 
Thoreau, Walden, p. 110. 
The provocation, the time of the Jews' wanderings In 
the wilderness, when they roused the anger of (iod by 
their sins. 
Harden not your hearts, as In the provocation, and as 
In the day of temptation In the wilderness, when your 
fathers tempted me. Ps. xcv. 8, 9. 
provocative (pro-vok'a-tiv), n. and n. [= F. 
provocalif= Pr. protocatiu = Sp. Pg. It. pro- 
rnrtitivo, < LL. provocativus, called forth, elicit- 
ed, < L. provocare. j>p. provocatiiH, call forth, call 
out: src /irovolce.] I. a. Serving or tending to 
provoke, excite, or stimulate; exciting; npt to 
incense or enrage: as, pi-ni-iiriilirr tlnv:iN. 
Not to be hasty, rash, provocative, or upbraiding In ur 
language. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. INtr.), 1. 107. 
In the humorous line I am thought to have a very pretty 
way with me: and as for pathos. I am as pmtneatire of tois 
as an onion. Hn\rthorne, Seven Gables, xil. 
