I.gen. PROVINCIAI, Inscr. Grut. 376, 6) [etym. dub.; perh. contr. for pro-noventia (cf. nuntius), the charge or government of a legate].
I. A province, i. e. a territory out of Italy, acquired by the Romans (chiefly by conquest), and brought under Roman government; freq., also, to be rendered provincial administration, employment, etc.: “Sicilia prima omnium provincia est appellata,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 1, § 2: “defendo provinciam Siciliam,” id. Div. in Caecil. 2, 5: “provincia Syria,” id. Fam. 15, 2, 1: “Asia provincia,” id. Fl. 34, 85: “provincia Gallia,” id. Font. 1, 2: “praeponere, praeficere aliquem provinciae,” id. Fam. 2, 15, 4: “tradere alicui provinciam,” id. ib. 3, 3, 1: “in provinciam cum imperio proficisci,” id. ib. 3, 2, 1: “administrare provinciam,” id. ib. 15, 4, 1: “provinciam consulari imperio obtinere,” id. Fl. 34, 85; cf. id. Phil. 1, 8, 19: “de provinciā decedere,” to retire from the administration of a province, id. Fam. 2, 15, 4: “provinciam Lentulus deposuit,” gave up, resigned, id. Pis. 21, 50: provincia consularis, governed by a former consul (proconsul), Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 13, § 34: “praetoria,” governed by a former prœtor, id. Phil. 1, 8, 19.—
2. In gen., a province, division of a kingdom or empire: “Judaea,” Vulg. 1 Esdr. 5, 8: “Babylonis,” id. Dan. 2, 48.—
II. Transf., in gen., official duty, office, business, charge, province (class.): “parasitorum,” Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 14: “hanc tibi impero provinciam,” id. Mil. 4, 4, 23: “abi in tuam provinciam,” id. Cas. 1, 15: “duram capere provinciam,” Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 22: “sibi provinciam depoposcit, ut me in meo lectulo trucidaret,” Cic. Sull. 18, 52: “qui eam provinciam susceperint, ut in balneas contruderentur,” id. Cael. 26, 63: “Sicinio Volsci, Aquilio Hernici provincia evenit,” i. e. were given into his charge, were assigned to him to be subdued, Liv. 2, 40 fin.: “cum ambo consules Appuliam provinciam haberent,” id. 26, 22.—In plur., Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 15: “ipsi inter se provincias partiuntur,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 35.
