n. 1 a principal administrative division of a country etc. 2 (the provinces) the whole of a country outside the capital, esp. regarded as uncultured, unsophisticated, etc. 3 a sphere of action; business (outside my province as a teacher). 4 a branch of learning etc. (in the province of aesthetics). 5 Eccl. a district under an archbishop or a metropolitan. 6 Rom.Hist. a territory outside Italy under a Roman governor.
[ ME f. OF f. L provincia charge, province ]