Provisory

Origin

from proviso from Middle English, from the Middle Latin loose ablative proviso quid 'provided that'; notably from the first word, being the inflected past particple provisus of providere 'to provide, see to', itself from pro- + videre 'to see') + -ory

Full definition of provisory

Adjective

1. containing (a) proviso(es)''The provisory clause effectively excluded his otherwise logical heirs from his main inheritance
2. dependent on a condition (proviso)''A provisory guarantee is rather like blackmail
3. pending something more permanent

Synonyms

• (relating to a proviso) conditional
• (pending something) provisional, temporary, transitory

Derived terms

• provisorily

Related terms

• provide, provided
• providing
• provident
• provider