Providence, n.
Etymology: [L. providentia: cf. F. providence. See Provident, and cf. Prudence.]
1. The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation. Providence for war is the best prevention of it. Bacon.
2. Foresight; care; especially, the foresight and care which God manifests for his creatures; hence, God himself, regarded as exercising a constant wise prescience. The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide. Milton.
3. (Theol.)
A manifestation of the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures; an event ordained by divine direction. He that hath a numerous family, and many to provide for, needs a greater providence of God. Jer. Taylor.
1 more senses
4. Prudence in the management of one's concerns; economy; frugality. It is a high point of providence in a prince to cast an eye rather upon actions than persons. Quarles.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for providence; he lists it under frugality, prudence.
Where he writes about it:
Prudence and providence look far ahead, and sacrifice the present to the future, saving as much as may be necessary for that end. (See prudence.) Thrift seeks not merely to save, but to earn. — from frugality
Economy manages, frugality saves, providence plans, thrift at once earns and saves, with a view to wholesome and profitable expenditure at a fitting time. — from frugality
Care may respect only the present; prudence and providence look far ahead and sacrifice the present to the future, prudence watching, saving, guarding, providence planning, doing, preparing, and perhaps expending largely to meet the future demand. — from prudence
In a besieged city prudence will reduce the rations, providence will strain every nerve to introduce supplies and to raise the siege. — from prudence
Foresight merely sees the future, and may even lead to the recklessness and desperation to which prudence and providence are so strongly opposed. — from prudence
Forethought is thinking in accordance with wise views of the future, and is nearly equivalent to providence, but it is a more popular and less comprehensive term; we speak of man's forethought, God's providence. — from prudence