Literary notes about Provisory (AI summary)
The term "provisory" is frequently employed to underscore the temporary, interim, or conditional nature of a situation, object, or idea. It appears in contexts ranging from tangible institutional arrangements, such as hospitals caring for orphans ([1]) and provisional governmental bodies or ordinances ([2], [3], [4], [5]), to conceptual frameworks in thought and philosophy where ideas are presented as not final but subject to future refinement ([6], [7], [8], [9]). Even in everyday language, the word conveys a sense of contingency—whether referring to a fleeting measure taken at the moment ([10]) or a makeshift arrangement in a social setting ([11]). Overall, its usage in literature reflects a broad versatility in indicating that the described situation, structure, or concept is meant to stand only temporarily until a more permanent form can be established.
- The work of caring for the 600 or more orphans of the emigrants was confided to the Sisters of Providence in the two provisory hospitals.
— from Montreal, 1535-1914. Vol. 2. Under British Rule, 1760-1914 by William H. (William Henry) Atherton - The Executive Provisory Council had requested his recall.
— from Memoirs of Aaron Burr, Complete by Aaron Burr - This provisory list is submitted to the Consulting Committee of the Staff Corps for transmission to the Minister of War.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - M. de Ternary notified us of his recall on the 17th of May, and delivered the letter of the Provisory Executive Council to that effect.
— from Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3 by Thomas Jefferson - A provisory government was established, entitled the Government of the National Defence.
— from The War Upon Religion Being an Account of the Rise and Progress of Anti-Christianism in Europe by Francis A. (Francis Aloysius) Cunningham - All dynamic systems or provisory systemizations of ever new problems have the same principle, namely, Thought, perennis philosophia.
— from Logic as the Science of the Pure Concept by Benedetto Croce - conditional , a. contingent, subject , provisory.
— from Putnam's Word Book A Practical Aid in Expressing Ideas Through the Use of an Exact and Varied Vocabulary by Louis A. (Louis Andrew) Flemming - These definitions can only be provisory.
— from The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method by Henri Poincaré - The march of science has always consisted in gradually eliminating these provisory conceptions and in reducing the number of causes.
— from Scientific American Supplement, No. 315, January 14, 1882 by Various - If yet in time —ay, such provisory parenthesis was in my mind at the moment.
— from The War Trail: The Hunt of the Wild Horse by Mayne Reid - The dinner was an uncommonly bad one; but of this I had been forewarned, and so had taken a provisory chop at the club.
— from Famous Persons and Places by Nathaniel Parker Willis
