'provide' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'providere', where 'pro-' meant 'forward' and 'videre' meant 'to see'.

'provide' changed from Late Latin 'providere' into Old French 'proveer'/'prevoir' and Middle English forms such as 'provyden', eventually becoming the modern English word 'provide'.

Initially it meant 'to see ahead, foresee' or 'to make provision for', and over time it evolved into its common modern sense 'to supply or make available'.