Middle English Dictionary Entry
prūdent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | prūdent adj. Also preudent, prodent. |
| Etymology | OF prudent & L prūdens, -entis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Prudent, wise, discerning; (b) of wisdom, doctrine, an action, opinion, a quality, etc.: characterized by prudence, wise, judicious; (c) as noun: wise one(s, skillful one(s; also [transl. of L campidoctoribus], ?drillmasters; (d) error for prudence.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.118.98 : Vp on myn enemys, prudent þou madest me with þyn heste.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 16.8 : The sones of this world ben more prudent [L prudentiores] in her generacioun than the sones of liȝt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.483 : Crist..Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is To mannes wit, that for oure ignoraunce Ne konne noght knowe his prudent [vr. prodent] purueiaunce.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.427 : For he saugh that vnder lowe degree Was ofte vertu hid, the peple hym helde A prudent man, and that is seyn ful selde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.64 : In hert I am so ful of drede, Whan prudent lysters her-to schal take hede, That in makyng more skylle can than I.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)201 : This kyng, thys prudent Amphyoun..The Cyte bylt.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)9/25 : A prudent phisician with draweþ from his pacient ofte sithes, for hie beste, þing þat is likerous.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)133/5 : To þis loue þei mown come..if þei ben wise and prudent, stidefast and perseueraunt.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)286 : By the sentence off prudent Salamon, Mercy and Riht kepyn euery kyng.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3157 : Prudent eek & also wyhs was she.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1335 : Accounte we must in dede How that we han dyspendid ou[r] talent, Outhir lyk foolys or lyk folkys prudent.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.443 : Heyl, ymage, made right in memorial Of a lady ful wys and ful prudent.
- c1450 Excellent soueraine (Dc 95)2 : Excellent soueraine..Preved prudente, peerlees of pris..I recomaunde me to your rialnesse.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3013 : Yt ouhte ynowh to the suffyse..Thy-sylff for to gouerne aryht..Than artow prudent, douteles.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)232/45 : As A primat most preudent, I present here sensyble buschopys of þe lawe.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)173/19 : A prudent philosophyr that was called Clentes had suche a desier to taste of the grete goodnesse of sapience.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2403 : Prudent nature may not bi worching Make complement of appetite of a thing.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)6/19 : He is prudent [L prudens] þat demeþ all erþely þinges as stinking donge, so þat he mowe wynne crist.
b
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Matthew (Add 28026:Hudson)13/7 : By most prudent silogisme or argument insolible Crist proueþ hem to be sones of manquelleres.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.71 : For wisdam & prudent aduertence..this fable of amptis was contreved.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3707 : Calchas..Preyinge hem alle her deuer for to do, Þat þoruȝ her prudent medyacioun..With kyng Thoas she myȝt eschaunged be.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)418/208 : He shal..Tourne mescreantis by his prudent doctryne To Crystes lawe.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)49/38 : Of practik opynyoun sum is prudent opynyoun, and sum is crafti opynyoun.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)58/26 : Many clerkis han passid him in prudent wijsdom.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)464 : Pease ys cause of all felycyte Of folk gouernyd by prudent polycy.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.3.3 : Þe lordshipere lord of hostis shal don awei fro ierusalem..þe prudent [WB(2): a prudent man] of priue speche.
- a1425 WBible(1) (Magd-C F.4.6)Mat.11.25 : [Dc 369(2): Thou hast hid these thingis fro..] prudent [and hast shewid hem to litil men].
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1516 : Sette vp in ordir euery man his sheeld, Whil princys and prudentys parte a feeld [L dividentibus campidoctoribus].
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.5.12 : Thi fadre ordeynyde hym prince of witchis..for the more spirit and more prudent [L prudentia] and vndirstondynge and interpretacioun of sweuens..ben founden in hym, this is in Danyel.