Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “prouesse” come from?

prouesse (Middle English) comes from Old French proeche, from Old French preu, from Late Latin prode, from Latin prosum, from Latin prō-, from Proto-Italic *pro-, from Proto-Indo-European pro-, from Proto-Indo-European por- — passed , crossed.

prouesse (Middle English): bravery in battle; act of bravery; excellence;...

Definitions

  1. bravery in battle; act of bravery; excellence;...

Ancestry of “prouesse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchproechechivalry; bravery; valour
2Old Frenchpreubrave; valiant, chivalrous
3Late Latinprodeprofitable, useful; useful; valuable
4LatinprosumI am useful or of use, do good, help, benefit,...
5Latinprō-—
6Proto-Italic*pro-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
9Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “prouesse”

  • prowess
  • prowessed
  • proues
  • prowesse
  • prouwesse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →