[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/provender/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / provender # provender noun (provender – uncountable) «provender» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. (old-fashioned) Food, especially dry food for horses and farm animals, such as hay and oats. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#m1) 2. (humorous) Food for people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#m2) ### In the lessons An old word that sounds grand and funny; in The Wind in the Willows the animals talk about good provender for a trip, and the horse pulling Toad's caravan needs provender. Today used for fun: «Bring plenty of provender for the picnic!» ### Examples - The farmer stored provender for the horses in the barn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#x1) - The caravan horse needed provender and water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#x2) - «Let's see what provender is in the basket!» said the Rat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#x3) - The army carried provender for the horses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#x4) - We packed plenty of provender for the long walk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#x5) - The stable boy gave the ponies their evening provender. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/#x6) ### Note Uncountable. Old-fashioned: in everyday talk say «food» or «fodder». ## In Jewish tradition In the Torah it means feed for animals, such as straw and fodder for camels and donkeys. **Interpretation.** Tradition notes Rebekah's kindness to travelers and their animals. It was a sign that she was a fit wife for Isaac. ### Examples - She said moreover unto him: 'We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.' (Torah GEN.24.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/#x1) - And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. (Torah GEN.43.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/#x2) - And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging-place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. (Torah GEN.42.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/#x3) - They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked. (Writings JOB.24.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/#x4) - The oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground shall eat savoury provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. (Prophets ISA.30.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/#x5) - Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man that is with thy servants; there is no want of any thing.' (Prophets JDG.19.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/#x6) ### Note Uncountable. Old-fashioned: in everyday talk say «food» or «fodder». ## Early Modern English ### Meaning Dry food for horses and farm animals, such as hay, straw or oats. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/P/provender/#m1) ### Then and now Old-fashioned; today we say fodder or feed, and "provender" is found in old texts. ### Examples - She said moreover unto him: 'We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.' (Torah GEN.24.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/P/provender/#x1) - "The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh" (No. xxxiii.) also requires the milk of nine kye for its daily rations, and cow's milk is the ordinary provender of such kittle cattle (Grimms' Teut. (More English Fairy Tales) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/P/provender/#x2) - And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. (Torah GEN.43.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/P/provender/#x3) ### Note Today: fodder, animal food. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «provender» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provender/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«provender» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/provender.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «provender» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provender/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«provender» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/provender.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «provender» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/P/provender/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«provender» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/provender.html) on Mova free.