conjunction
providing
On the condition that.
You can borrow my bike, providing you wear a helmet.
Etymology
Providing developed from providing that, a phrase introducing a stipulated condition. The action of making provision became a conjunction meaning only if the condition is met.
More examples
- Providing that everyone agrees, we can start early.
- The tickets are refundable, providing you cancel before Friday.
- This plant grows well indoors, providing it gets enough light.