prōvincĭa, ae (old
* Gen. PROVINCIAI, Inscr. Grut. 376, 6) [etym. dub.; perh. contr. for pro-noventia (cf. nuntius), the charge or government of a legate].
* 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 proetor,id. Phil. 1, 8, 19.
* In gen., a province, division of a kingdom or empire: Judaea,Vulg. 1 Esdr. 5, 8: Babylonis,id. Dan. 2, 48.
* 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.

s. TLL