Dictionary

prudence en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹuːd(ə)n(t)s/ (Received-Pronunciation)
(General-American) audio
/ˈpɹud(ə)n(t)s/ (General-American)
(Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English prudence (“discretion; foresight; knowledge; intelligence, wisdom; act of good judgment; wisdom to see what is virtuous”), from Anglo-Norman prudence, Middle French prudence, and Old French prudence (“common sense; wisdom”) (modern French prudence), and from their etymon Latin prūdentia (“common sense; discretion, prudence; foresight; knowledge; providence; skilfulness; wisdom”), from prūdent- (the stem of prūdēns (“knowledgeable, skilful; wise, prudent”)) + -ia (suffix forming first-declension feminine abstract nouns). Prūdēns is a contraction of prōvidēns (“caring for; foreseeing; providing”) (whence prōvidentia (“foreknowledge, foresight; forethought, precaution, providence”)), the present active participle of prōvideō (“to care for, look after; to foresee; to provide, see to”), from prō- (prefix meaning ‘forward; prior’) + videō (“to perceive, see; to comprehend, understand; to look out for, care for”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to see; to know”)). Doublet of provide and purvey.

Meanings

(uncountable) The quality or state of being prudent: circumspection and good judgment in knowing how best to act; (countable, archaic) an instance of this.
- A man is prudent, who acts so as to promote his own Interest, if his Interest be assumed to be the proper Object of action: but if we conceive Happiness to be a higher object than Interest, he is prudent, if he disregard mere Interest, and attend only to his Happiness. Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the selection of right means for given ends. 1845, William Whewell, “Virtues and Vices”, in The Elements of Morality, including Polity […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], →OCLC, book III (Morality. Of Virtues and Duties.), article 258, page 157:
- [U]nder pretence of carrying in a pitcher of vvater, he entered the priſon, though, his prudence having prevented him from telling the ſentinel the real motive of his viſit, he vvas obliged to make his conference vvith the priſoner a very ſhort one. 1794 May 8, Ann Radcliffe, chapter IX, in The Mysteries of Udolpho, a Romance; […], volume III, London: […] G. G. and J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, pages 277–278:
- Prudence, like experience, must be paid for. 1777 May 8 (first performance; rewritten a. 1817), Richard Brinsley Sheridan, “The School for Scandal: A Comedy”, in Thomas Moore, editor, The Works of the Late Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan. […], volume II, London: John Murray, […]; James Ridgway, and Thomas Wilkie, published 1821, →OCLC, Act IV, scene iii, page 104:
- "You mistake," cried the doctor, startled out of all his prudences; "it ought to be my business quite as much as it is yours." 1861, [Margaret Oliphant], “The Doctor’s Family. Chapter VII.”, in The Rector: And The Doctor’s Family […] (Chronicles of Carlingford), Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1863, →OCLC, page 138:
- [T]here are ſo many concurrencies vvhich have their attending cheques; vvhich poſſible are to be, but actually, vvere not improved in remedy that the prevalence of the Fire againſt, and in deſpight of thoſe vvonted prudences, and uſual reſiſtances, and the Latitude of effects, ſeconding ſuch a neglect of impending means, vvhere ſo vvell underſtood, and ſo dextrouſly at other times practiſed; […] 1666 October 30 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Edward Waterhous[e], “To His Noble Friend and Kinsman, Sr. Edwarde Turno[u]r, Knight; Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons in this Present Parliament”, in A Short Narrative of the Late Dreadful Fire in London: […], London: […] W. G. for Rich[ard] Thrale […], and James Thrale […], published 1667, →OCLC, page 36:
- Novv as I don't much chuſe to have my girls go to theſe ſort of places often, vvhich is a prudence that I dare ſay you approve as much as myſelf, I vvould vviſh to have the moſt made of them at once; […] 1796, [Frances Burney], “A Family Breakfast”, in Camilla: Or, A Picture of Youth. […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Payne, […]; and T[homas] Cadell Jun. and W[illiam] Davies (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) […], →OCLC, book II, pages 187–188:
- Concerning intellectual Habits or the genuine effects of theſe acts in the underſtanding Faculty, and they are divers and diverſly expreſſed by thoſe that have treated thereof. […] Prudence, vvhich is principally in reference to actions to be done, the due means, order, ſeaſon, method of doing or not doing. a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, “Touching the Excellency of the Humane Nature in General”, in The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC, section I, page 57:
- With 3,600 h.p. underfoot, acceleration was reasonably brisk, but the flickering wheel-slip indicator light showed the prudence of not putting full power through the traction motors while there were traces of early-morning dampness on the rails. 1960 August, R. K. Evans, “Railway Modernisation in Spain”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 494:
- She heard her ask, irritated and sombre, what tone, in God's name—since her bravery didn't suit him—she was then to adopt; and, by way of a fantastic flight of divination, she heard Amerigo reply, in a voice of which every fine note, familiar and admirable, came home to her, that one must really manage such prudences a little for one's self. 1904 November 10, Henry James, chapter XXXVIII, in The Golden Bowl, volume I, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, 1st book (The Prince), 3rd part, pages 289–290:
- Mrs. Varden approved of this meek and forgiving spirit in high terms, and incidentally declared as a closing article of agreement, that Dolly should accompany her to the Clerkenwell branch of the association, that very night. This was an extraordinary instance of her great prudence and policy; having had this end in view from the first, and entertaining a secret misgiving that the locksmith (who was bold when Dolly was in question) would object, she had backed Miss Miggs up to this point, in order that she might have him at a disadvantage. 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 41.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 174:
(specifically, uncountable) Synonym of frugality (“the quality of avoiding unnecessary expenditure; economy, parsimony, thrift, thriftiness”).
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of providence (“preparation for the future; foresight”).
- For 'tis my ſetled Opinion, that Divine Prudence is often, at leaſt, converſant in a peculiar manner about the Actions of Men, and the things that happen to Them, or have a neceſſary Connexion vvith the One, or the Other, or Both. 1686 (indicated as 168⁵⁄₆), R[obert] B[oyle], “Sect[ion] VI”, in A Free Enquiry into the Vulgarly Receiv’d Notion of Nature; […], London: […] H. Clark, for John Taylor […], →OCLC, page 239:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Synonym of wisdom (“an element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise; wise advice”).
- [H]e [Pythagoras] vvent from Ægypt to the Perſians, (not to Perſia, as ſome conceive) and reſigned himſelf to the moſt exact prudence of the Magi, to be formed. 1659–1660, Thomas Stanley, “[Pythagoras.] Chap[ter] V. How He Went to Babylon.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Third and Last Volume, […], volume III, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Containing the Italick Sects), page 7:
- Children here ye the fathers diſcipline, and attend that you may knovve prudence. 1610, The Second Tome of the Holie Bible, […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Doway: Laurence Kellam, […], →OCLC, Prouerbes 4:1, page 276:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
prudences	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Translations (141)

grc πρᾰπίς (quality or state of being prudent) · de Grütze (quality or state of being prudent) · ru осторо́жность (quality or state of being prudent) · ar رَأْي (quality or state of being prudent) · cmn 謹慎 /谨慎 (quality or state of being prudent) · fi harkitsevaisuus (quality or state of being prudent) · hu körültekintés (quality or state of being prudent) · cmn 殷憂 (quality or state of being prudent) · it previdenza (quality or state of being prudent) · ru предусмотри́тельность (quality or state of being prudent) · mt għaqal (quality or state of being prudent) · uk передба́чливість (quality or state of being prudent) · fa کیاست (quality or state of being prudent) · fa تدبیر (quality or state of being prudent) · ang hohsċipe (quality or state of being prudent) · es prudencia (quality or state of being prudent) · uk оба́чність (quality or state of being prudent) · el γνώση (quality or state of being prudent) · hu megfontoltság (quality or state of being prudent) · ga críonnacht (quality or state of being prudent) · mg fahamalinana (quality or state of being prudent) · xcl զգաստութիւն (quality or state of being prudent) · az qabiliyyət (quality or state of being prudent) · tl habas (quality or state of being prudent) · pl uwaga (quality or state of being prudent) · pt tenência (quality or state of being prudent) · fi terävänäköisyys (quality or state of being prudent) · mk проми́сленост (quality or state of being prudent) · sh па̏ме̄т (quality or state of being prudent) · pt prudência (quality or state of being prudent) · grc σωφροσῠ́νη (quality or state of being prudent) · tl hunos-dili (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 思慮 (quality or state of being prudent) · sl preudarnost (quality or state of being prudent) · cs chytrá (quality or state of being prudent) · cs obezřetnost (quality or state of being prudent) · hu óvatosság (quality or state of being prudent) · gl cordura (quality or state of being prudent) · ang glēawnes (quality or state of being prudent) · pl przezorność (quality or state of being prudent) · osx giwitt (quality or state of being prudent) · ush ہُوشارتوب (quality or state of being prudent) · fr prudence (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 分別 (quality or state of being prudent) · mk претпа́зливост (quality or state of being prudent) · sv klokhet (quality or state of being prudent) · bg благоразу́мие (quality or state of being prudent) · it precauzione (quality or state of being prudent) · ar تَقِيَّة (quality or state of being prudent) · io prudenteso (quality or state of being prudent) · ar حَنْك (quality or state of being prudent) · fr sagesse (quality or state of being prudent) · chr ᎨᏯᏔᎯ (quality or state of being prudent) · id wiweka (quality or state of being prudent) · syc ܛܥܡܐ (quality or state of being prudent) · nhn nezcalicayotl (quality or state of being prudent) · grc σοφῐ́ᾱ (quality or state of being prudent) · sa धीर्य (quality or state of being prudent) · ur احتیاط (quality or state of being prudent) · sh смо̏трено̄ст (quality or state of being prudent) · cmn 審慎 /审慎 (quality or state of being prudent) · ca prudència (quality or state of being prudent) · it oculatezza (quality or state of being prudent) · ru благоразумность (quality or state of being prudent) · yi שׂכלדיקייט (quality or state of being prudent) · ar حَصَافَة (quality or state of being prudent) · de Besonnenheit (quality or state of being prudent) · grc μήδεᾰ (quality or state of being prudent) · sh smȍtrenōst (quality or state of being prudent) · es lastre (quality or state of being prudent) · ru осмотрительность (quality or state of being prudent) · mi ngārehu (quality or state of being prudent) · tl siyasip (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 魂 (quality or state of being prudent) · cs rozvážnost (quality or state of being prudent) · rup mintiminilji (quality or state of being prudent) · it cautela (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 慮 (quality or state of being prudent) · pa ਨੀਤੀ (quality or state of being prudent) · tr ihtiyat (quality or state of being prudent) · am ጥንቃቄ (quality or state of being prudent) · grc φρόνησῐς (quality or state of being prudent) · hy ուշք (quality or state of being prudent) · hu gondosság (quality or state of being prudent) · az ehtiyat (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 自重 (quality or state of being prudent) · mi ngārahu (quality or state of being prudent) · gd gliocas (quality or state of being prudent) · da klogskab (quality or state of being prudent) · fr précaution (quality or state of being prudent) · ar حِلْم (quality or state of being prudent) · de Klugheit (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 慎重 (quality or state of being prudent) · bg разсъди́телност (quality or state of being prudent) · hy զգաստություն (quality or state of being prudent) · kk мұқияттылық (quality or state of being prudent) · ro prudență (quality or state of being prudent) · oc prudéncia (quality or state of being prudent) · eo prudeco (quality or state of being prudent) · xh ingqiqo (quality or state of being prudent) · mi matawhāititanga (quality or state of being prudent) · ar حُنْكَة (quality or state of being prudent) · arc מדברנותא (quality or state of being prudent) · de Umsicht (quality or state of being prudent) · ar حَيْطَة f/حِيطَة (quality or state of being prudent) · ar حِكْمَة (quality or state of being prudent) · pt tino (quality or state of being prudent) · sh pȁmēt (quality or state of being prudent) · bg предпазливост (quality or state of being prudent) · ja 才略 (quality or state of being prudent) · gl prudencia (quality or state of being prudent) · hu átgondoltság (quality or state of being prudent) · it saviezza (quality or state of being prudent) · zu ubuxwaya (quality or state of being prudent) · bg мъ́дрост (quality or state of being prudent) · ru дальновидность (quality or state of being prudent) · xcl հանճար (quality or state of being prudent) · kaw nīti (quality or state of being prudent) · syc ܡܕܒܪܢܘܬܐ (quality or state of being prudent) · pl chytrość (quality or state of being prudent) · ar اِحْتِرَاز (quality or state of being prudent) · sh rázboritōst (quality or state of being prudent) · fi harkitsevuus (quality or state of being prudent) · uk обере́жність (quality or state of being prudent) · kk абайлағыштық (quality or state of being prudent) · ar عَقْل (quality or state of being prudent) · it prudenza (quality or state of being prudent) · pl roztropność (quality or state of being prudent) · pt tento (quality or state of being prudent) · eo prudento (quality or state of being prudent) · ru расчётливость (quality or state of being prudent) · bg разсъдли́вост (quality or state of being prudent) · ar صِيَانَة (quality or state of being prudent) · pt precaução (quality or state of being prudent) · sh ра́зборито̄ст (quality or state of being prudent) · la prudentia (quality or state of being prudent) · cy pwyll (quality or state of being prudent) · ka გონიერება (quality or state of being prudent) · it avvedutezza (quality or state of being prudent) · sah харыс (quality or state of being prudent) · fi varovaisuus (quality or state of being prudent)

prudence en · NOUN

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Translations (141)