Added 10 October 2026
prudence
/ˈpɹuːd(ə)n(t)s/ noun
In Latin: prudentia Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prudence at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Discretion in practical affairs.
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Knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress.
the servants showed great tact and discretion
Origin
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).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)