Where does “prudent” come from?
Prudent comes from Middle English prudent, from Old French prudent, from Latin prudens, derived from providens, the present participle of provideo meaning to foresee or provide for, formed from pro- and the Proto-Indo-European root weyd- meaning to see.
prudent (English): Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect...
Definitions
- Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect...
Ancestry of “prudent”, step by step
prudent traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French prudent
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | prudent | prudent, careful, cautious |
| 2 | Italian | prudente | prudent, careful, cautious; present participle of... |
| 3 | Spanish | prudente | prudent, wise, judicious, discreet, well-advised |
| 4 | Portuguese | prudente | Prone to watch and guard against deception and... |
| 5 | Latin | prūdēns | wise, prudent |
| 6 | Latin | prōvidēns | foreseeing |
| 7 | Latin | prōvideō | to foresee |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |