ˈprävə̇n(t)s sometimes -äˌvin- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Latin provincia; perhaps akin to Gothic frauja lord, master — more at frau
1.
a. : a country or a more or less remote region brought under the control of the ancient Roman government
b. : an administrative district or division of a country or empire
the provinces of old Spain
the provinces of Canada
c.
(1) : a portion of a country ; especially : one remote from or outside of the capital or largest city
(2) provinces plural : all of a country outside of the metropolis — usually used with the
a shabby theatrical troupe which tours the provinces — Donald Heiney
2.
[Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin provincia, from Latin]
a. : any of the principal ecclesiastical divisions of a country forming the jurisdiction of an archbishop or metropolitan
the province of Canterbury
b. : a territorial division of a religious order
the general of the order administers several provinces
c. : a Salvation Army administrative unit smaller than a territory and larger than a division
3.
a. : a biogeographic division of less rank than a region ; especially : a primary division of a subregion
b. : an area throughout which geological history has been essentially the same or which is characterized by particular structural, petrographical, or physiographical features
4.
a. : proper or appropriate business or scope (as of a person or body) : sphere , jurisdiction
semantic questions … are outside his province — English Language Teaching
b. : a department of knowledge or activity
humanitarianism invaded one province of life after another — G.M.Trevelyan
Synonyms: see field , function