prudent

See also: Prudent

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for prudent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)

Etymology

From Middle English, from Middle French prudent, from Latin prūdēns, contracted from prōvidēns (“foresight”) (English providence), the past participle of prōvideō (“I forsee”). Unrelated to prude.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹuːdənt/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Adjective

prudent (comparative more prudent, superlative most prudent)

  1. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; careful, discreet, sensible; -- opposed to rash; directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence
    • 1864, Jules Verne, chapter 30, in A Journey to the Center of the Earth‎:
      He did not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to continue on to Omaha, for it would be dangerous to return to the train, which the Indians might still be engaged in pillaging.
    • Moses established a grave and prudent law. --Milton.
  2. Practically wise, judicious, shrewd
    His prudent career moves reliably brought him to the top
  3. Frugal; economical; not extravagant;
    Only prudent expenditure may provide quality within a restrictive budget

Synonyms

  • (sagacious in adapting means to ends): For semantic relationships of this term, see cautious in the Thesaurus.
  • (practically wise): For semantic relationships of this term, see wise in the Thesaurus.
  • (frugal): For semantic relationships of this term, see frugal in the Thesaurus.
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Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

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Anagrams

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin prūdēns, prūdēntem.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pʁy.dɑ̃/
  • Audio(file)

Adjective

prudent (feminine singular prudente, masculine plural prudents, feminine plural prudentes)

  1. prudent

Antonyms

Further reading

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French prudent.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pruˈdent/

Adjective

prudent m, n (feminine singular prudentă, masculine plural prudenți, feminine and neuter plural prudente)

  1. prudent, careful, cautious

Declension

Synonyms

  • prudență
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