(a.) Providing for the future; foreseeing wants and making provision\ to supply them; prudent in preparing for future exigencies; cautious; economical; -- sometimes followed by of; as, aprovident man; an animal provident of the future.

Scotch acute anticipant anticipatory apperceptive appercipient argute astute canny careful cautious chary cheeseparing circumspect clairvoyant cogent conserving considerate discerning discreet discriminating discriminative divinatory economic economical economizing enlightened farseeing farsighted forehanded foreknowing foreseeing foresighted forethoughted forethoughtful frugal incisive intuitive judgmatic judicial judicious labor-saving longheaded longsighted money-saving parsimonious penetrating penny-wise perceptive percipient perspicacious perspicuous piercing politic precautional precautionary precautious precognitive precognizant preparative preparatory prepared prerequisite prescient propaedeutic providential provisional prudent prudential ready reflecting reflective sagacious sage saving scrimping shrewd skimping spare sparing thoughtful thrifty time-saving trenchant understanding unwasteful vigilant wary well-advised well-judged wise