Adjacent Words

Prudence definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PRU'DENCE, n. [L. prudentia.] Wisdom applied to practice.
Prudence implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes, and the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting them. Prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil, than in devising and executing that which is good. It is sometimes mere caution or circumspection.
Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season and method of doing or not doing.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: discretion in practical affairs [ant: imprudence]
2: knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress; "the servants showed great tact and discretion" [syn: discretion, discreetness, circumspection, prudence]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin prudentia, alteration of providentia — more at providence Date: 14th century 1. the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason 2. sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs 3. skill and good judgment in the use of resources 4. caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Prudence Pru"dence, n. [F., fr. L. prudentia, contr. from providentia. See Prudent, and cf. Providence.] The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality. Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing. --Sir M. Hale. Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends. --Whewell. Syn: Wisdom; forecast; providence; considerateness; judiciousness; discretion; caution; circumspection; judgment. See Wisdom.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Prudence is care and good sense that someone shows when making a decision or taking action. (FORMAL) A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Discretion (accompanied with forecast), providence, forecast, sense, caution, carefulness, circumspection, considerateness, commonsense, judiciousness, judgment, wisdom (applied to the ordinary affairs of life).

Foolish Dictionary

A quality of mind that restrains the wise boarder from trying to find out how his landlady makes her hash.

Moby Thesaurus

abnegation, abstinence, acumen, advantage, advantageousness, advisability, anticipation, appropriateness, astuteness, austerity, austerity program, awareness, beneficialness, calculation, calm, calmness, canniness, cardinal virtues, care, careful consideration, carefulness, caution, cautiousness, chariness, charity, circumspection, circumspectness, common sense, conservatism, consideration, constraint, contemplation, continence, control, convenience, cool, cool judgment, custodianship, custody, decency, deliberate stages, deliberateness, deliberation, desirability, discreetness, discretion, discrimination, dispassion, eagle eye, economic planning, economicalness, economy, economy of means, envisagement, envisionment, evenness, expedience, expediency, faith, false economy, farseeingness, farsightedness, feasibility, fitness, fittingness, forecast, foreglance, foregleam, foreglimpse, forehandedness, foreseeing, foresight, foresightedness, forethought, fortitude, frugality, frugalness, fruitfulness, gentleness, gingerliness, golden mean, good judgment, good management, guard, guardedness, guardianship, happy medium, hedge, hedging, heed, heedfulness, hesitation, hope, husbandry, impartiality, insight, invigilation, judgement, judgment, judiciousness, juste-milieu, justice, keenness, lenity, longsightedness, looking ahead, lookout, love, management, meden agan, middle way, mildness, mindfulness, moderateness, moderation, moderationism, monitoring, natural virtues, neutrality, nonviolence, nothing in excess, observance, opportuneness, pacifism, parsimoniousness, parsimony, pawkiness, peeled eye, penetration, percentage, percipience, perspicacity, planning, policy, politicness, polity, precaution, prediction, preparation, preparedness, prepublication, presence of mind, preview, prevision, prior consultation, proctoring, profit, profitability, propriety, prospect, prospection, providence, provision, prudential administration, prudentialism, prudentialness, qui vive, readiness, reflection, reflectiveness, regardfulness, repose, restraint, rightness, safeness, safety first, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, seasonableness, seemliness, self-abnegation, self-control, self-denial, self-restraint, serenity, sharp eye, shrewdness, slowness to act, sobriety, solicitude, sound judgment, soundness of judgment, sparingness, stability, steadiness, stewardship, suitability, supernatural virtues, surveillance, tact, temperance, temperateness, tentativeness, theological virtues, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, thrift, thriftiness, tight purse strings, timeliness, tranquillity, uncommunicativeness, unexcessiveness, unextravagance, unextremeness, unprecipitateness, unwastefulness, usefulness, via media, vigil, vigilance, wariness, watch, watch and ward, watchful eye, watchfulness, watching, weather eye, weighing, wisdom, wit, worthwhileness