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.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L provincia charge, province