prove
1112
novels called in English Remembrance of Things Past, which is
a detailed description of French society in the late 19th
century, and is sometimes mentioned as a typical example of
a very long book. Many people also know how the book
begins, when one of the characters eats a 'madeleine' (=a type
of small cake) and the taste reminds him of an earlier time.
prove /pru:v/ v proved, proved also proven /'pru:vən/ espe-
cially AmE 1 [T] to show to be true by means of facts,
documents, information etc; give proof of: evidence that
proves his innocence | In order to prove her point, she showed
them the latest sales figures. | [+(that)] The fingerprints on the
gun prove conclusively that she was the murderer. | [+obj+adj]
They prove her (to be) guilty. -> see also DISPROVE 2 [L;T] to
show (oneself or itself) afterwards or in the course of time or
experience etc, to be: [+adj/n] These revelations could prove
highly embarrassing for the government. | Perhaps the book
will prove (to be) useful, after all. | On the long journey, he
proved a most amusing companion. | [+obj+n/adj] He proved
himself (to be) an amusing companion. 3 [T] law to show that
(a WILL) has been properly made —provable adj —provably
adv
prov·en /'pru:vən; ScotE 'prɔvən/ adj 1 [A] also proved
apprec tested and shown to be true: a man of proven ability ->
opposite UNPROVEN 2 not proven (in the Scottish legal
system) when it has not been proved beyond doubt that
someone has broken the law and they are therefore set free
prov·e·nance /'prɒvənəns||'prɑ:-/ n [U] fml or tech (the stated
place of) origin: Gunpowder is now considered to be of Chi-
nese provenance.
Prov·en·cal¹ /,prɒvɒn'sɑ:||,prɑ:vɑ:n-/ n 1 [U] the lan-
guage of Provence in southeast France, which is a DIALECT of
French 2 [C] a person from Provence
Provençal² adj from or connected with Provence
Provençale, Provençal /,prɒvɒn'sɑ:||,prɑ:vɑ:n-/ adj
cooked with oil, GARLIC, HERBS, and TOMATOES: vegetables in
a Provençale sauce | chicken Provençale
Prov·ence /prɒ'vɒns, prɑ-||prɑ:'vɑ:ns/ an area in southeast
France which includes the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and
the hills and mountains away from the coast. It is known for
producing wine, fruit, OLIVE OIL and LAVENDER (=a strong-
smelling purple flower). Its beaches, beautiful countryside,
and warm weather make it a popular place for tourists to visit.
Its main towns are Nice and Marseilles.
prov·en·der /'prɒvəndər||'prɑ:-/ n [U] 1 old-fash dry food for
horses and cattle 2 infml, often humor food for people
prov·erb /'prɒvɜ:b||'prɑ:vɜ:rb/ n a short well-known, sup-
posedly wise, saying usually in simple language: 'Don't put
all your eggs in one basket' is a proverb.
pro·ver·bi·al /prə'vɜ:biəl||-ɜ:r-/ adj 1 of a proverb: a prover-
bial expression 2 [A] infml spoken of in a popular saying or
comparison: He's got more lives than the proverbial cat! (cats
are often said to have nine lives, meaning that they often
narrowly escape death) 3 very widely known and spoken of;
undoubted: His generosity is proverbial.
pro·ver·bi·al·ly /prə'vɜ:biəli||-ɜ:r-/ adv as is widely known
or believed: The Scots are proverbially careful with money.
Prov·erbs /'prɒvɜ:bz||'prɑ:vɜ:rbz/ a book of the OLD TESTA-
MENT of the Bible consisting of a collection of PROVERBS
which are thought to have been written by King SOLOMON
pro·vide /prə'vaɪd/ v [T] 1 [(for)] to cause or arrange for
(someone) to have or use (something needed or useful);
supply: The course is free but you have to provide your own
books. | The hotel provides a shoe-cleaning service for its
residents. | [+obj+with] These letters should provide us with all
the information we need. | Senior members of the government
are provided with research assistants. -> see SPREAD
(USAGE) 2 [+that:obj] fml (of a law, rule, agreement etc) to state a
special arrangement that must be fulfilled: The law provides
that ancient buildings must be preserved by the government.
provide against sthg. phr v [T] 1 to make arrangements in
order to avoid (a danger) 2 fml (of a law, rule etc) to forbid
provide for sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to support; supply with
the things necessary for life: He has five children to provide
for: 2 to make the necessary future arrangements for: to
provide for every eventuality (=for whatever might happen) |
[+obj+v-ing] The plans provide for road traffic increasing to
twice its present volume. 3 (of a law, rule etc) to allow; make
possible: The possibility of the book being translated is pro-
vided for in your contract.
pro·vid·ed /prə'vaɪdd/ also pro'vided that, providing,
providing that conj 1 if: Provided (that) there is no opposi-
tion, we shall hold the meeting here. 2 and only if; on
condition that: I will go, (always) provided/providing (that)
you go too.
Prov·i·dence¹, providence /'prɒvɪdəns||'prɑ:-/ n [U] a
force that some people believe controls our lives, especially
because it is what God wants
Providence² the capital of the US state of Rhode Island
prov·i·dent /'prɒvɪdənt||'prɑ:-/ adj apprec careful and sensi-
ble in providing for future needs, especially by saving or
storing -> opposite IMPROVIDENT —ly adv
prov·i·den·tial /,prɒvɪ'denʃəl||,prɑ:-/ adj fml happening
just when needed; lucky —tially adv
pro·vid·er /prə'vaɪdəər/ n a person who provides, especially
one who supports a family
pro·vid·ing /prə'vaɪdɪŋ/ also pro'viding that conj PRO-
VIDED
prov·ince /'prɒvɪns||'prɑ:-/ n 1 [C] any of the main divi-
sions of some countries, and formerly of some EMPIRES
(groups of countries), that forms a separate whole for pur-
poses of government control 2 [S] an area of knowledge,
activity etc, especially one that is regarded as belonging to a
particular person: Sales forecasts are outside my province –
you should discuss them with the sales manager. | Everything
to do with our finances is my wife's province. 3 [C] an area
under the charge of an ARCHBISHOP (=a priest of the highest
rank) -> compare DIOCESE
prov·in·ces /'prɒvɪnsɪz||'prɑ:-/ n [the P] the parts of a
country that are distant from the main city: I saw the new
film in London; it's not yet being shown in the provinces.
pro·vin·cial¹ /prə'vɪnʃəl/ adj 1 [no comp.] of a province or
the provinces: provincial government | a provincial news-
paper 2 often derog having the manners, speech, opinions,
rather limited or old-fashioned customs etc, that are some-
times regarded as typical of people from the PROVINCES: her
narrow-minded provincial attitudes —ly adv —ism n [C;U]
provincialism(s) of dress and manner
provincial² n 1 a PROVINCIAL¹ (especially 2) person 2 tech
the head of a PROVINCE
'proving ground n 1 a place for scientific testing, especially
of vehicles 2 a place or situation in which something new is
tried out: The school was a proving ground for his educa-
tional theories.
pro·vi·sion¹ /prə'vɪʒən/ n 1 [U+of] the act of providing: The
provision of a new library has been of great benefit to the
students. 2 [U+against, for] preparation against future risks or
for future needs: They spend all their money and make no
provision for the future. 3 [C] a condition in an agreement or
law; PROVISO: According to the provisions of the agreement the
interest on the loan must be paid monthly. | [+that] The doctor
agreed to go to Africa, with the provision that he could take his
family with him. -> see also PROVISIONS
provision² v [T(for)] to provide with food and supplies in
large quantities for a long time: to provision a ship/an army
pro·vi·sion·al /prə'vɪʒənəl/ adj for the present time only;
suitable now, but likely to be changed: a provisional govern-
ment until we can hold an election | a provisional arrange-
ment -> compare TEMPORARY —ly adv: Provisionally, we've
arranged the meeting for Tuesday, but we can change it if that
doesn't suit you.
Pro,visional IRA, the another name for the IRA (=the Irish
Republican Army), an illegal military organization that wants
Northern Ireland to leave the UK. In 1969, a group that
favoured the use of violence, bombing etc separated from the
main IRA, and officially this group is called the 'Provisional
IRA'. But in fact when people talk about the 'IRA', they usually
mean this group.
pro'visional ,licence BrE || learner's permit AmE — n
an official paper which is given to a person who is learning
to drive. It is temporary and lasts for one year.