Where does “imprudent” come from?
Imprudent comes from Middle French imprudent, from Latin imprudens, combining the prefix in- with prudens (wise), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weyd- meaning to see or know.
imprudent (English): Not prudent; wanting in prudence or discretion;...
Definitions
- Not prudent; wanting in prudence or discretion;...
Ancestry of “imprudent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | imprudent | — |
| 2 | Latin | imprudens | ignorant of; unaware; inadvertent, imprudent |
| 3 | Latin | prudens | wise, prudent; skilful, knowledgeable |
| 4 | Latin | providens | foreseeing; providing; caring for |
| 5 | Latin | provideo | I foresee; I am cautious; I act with foresight; I... |
| 6 | Latin | pro- | forward direction, forward movement; action... |
| 7 | Latin | pro | + "ablative"; for; on behalf of, in the interest... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |