inclining to _caution_ and _frugality_ in practical affairs. _Care_ may
respect only the present; _prudence_ and _providence_ look far ahead and
sacrifice the present to the future, _prudence_ watching, saving,
guarding, _providence_ planning, doing, preparing, and perhaps expending
largely to meet the future demand. _Frugality_ is in many cases one form
of _prudence_. In a besieged city _prudence_ will reduce the rations,
_providence_ will strain every nerve to introduce supplies and to raise
the siege. _Foresight_ merely sees the future, and may even lead to the
recklessness and desperation to which _prudence_ and _providence_ are so
strongly opposed. _Forethought_ is thinking in accordance with wise
views of the future, and is nearly equivalent to _providence_, but it is
a more popular and less comprehensive term; we speak of man's
_forethought_, God's _providence_. Compare CARE; FRUGALITY; WISDOM.

Antonyms:

folly, imprudence, rashness, thoughtlessness,
heedlessness, indiscretion, recklessness, wastefulness.
improvidence, prodigality,

* * * * *

PURCHASE.

Synonyms:

acquire, barter for, get, procure, secure.
bargain for, buy, obtain,

_Buy_ and _purchase_ are close synonyms, signifying to _obtain_ or
_secure_ as one's own by paying or promising to pay a price; in numerous
cases the two words are freely interchangeable, but with the difference
usually found between words of Saxon and those of French or Latin
origin. The Saxon _buy_ is used for all the homely and petty concerns of
common life, the French _purchase_ is often restricted to transactions
of more dignity; yet the Saxon word _buy_ is commonly more emphatic, and
in the higher ranges of thought appeals more strongly to the feelings.
One may either _buy_ or _purchase_ fame, favor, honor, pleasure, etc.,
but when our feelings are stirred we speak of victory or freedom as
dearly _bought_. "_Buy_ the truth, and sell it not" (_Prov._ xxiii, 23)
would be greatly weakened by the rendering "_Purchase_ the truth, and do
not dispose of it." Compare BUSINESS; GET; PRICE; SALE.

Antonyms:

barter, dispose of, exchange, put to sale, sell.

Prepositions:

Purchase _at_ a price; _at_ a public sale; _of_ or _from_ a person;
_for_ cash; _with_ money; _on_ time.

* * * * *

PURE.

Synonyms:

absolute, guiltless, simple,