prudence Hear it!

prudence Definition

pru·dence (pro̵̅o̅′dəns)

noun

  1. the quality or fact of being prudent
  2. careful management; economy

Etymology: ME < MFr < L prudentia < prudens: see prudent

Prudence Definition

Pru·dence (pro̵̅o̅′dəns)

noun

a feminine name: dim. Prue

Etymology: LL, fem. of Prudentius < L prudentia: see prudence

prudence Synonyms

prudence

n.

caution, circumspection, judgment, providence, considerateness, judiciousness, sagacity, deliberation, wisdom, foresight, forethought, care, carefulness, frugality, watchfulness, precaution, heedfulness, heed, economy, husbandry, concern, conservatism, conservation, discrimination, cunning, vigilance, coolness, calculation, presence of mind; see also discretion 1, tact.

Antonyms carelessness*, imprudence*, rashness.

prudence Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • exercise: In such instances there is a need to exercise prudence in preparation of the financial statements.
  • have: I'm glad, my dear, you have so much prudence left.
  • show: Is this a time to show prudence or seek justice?
  • counsel: Saint-Venant wrote:- ... one could reproach him for having been too rebellious against those counseling prudence.
  • maintain: The next couple of years will be crucial for maintaining financial prudence to ensure school budgets are not overspent.
  • restore: So a top priority for the next Conservative government should be to restore prudence to the management of the nation's finances.

Converse of subject

  • guide: Strict fiscal policy Fiscal performance will be guided by prudence.

Adjective modifier

  • fiscal: Might such a concern with fiscal prudence hamper labor market reform?
  • extreme: Thanks to his extreme prudence this part of the journey was signalized by no incident whatever.
  • financial: Still, it is hard to believe that financial prudence is the real reason for his single status.
  • common: The captain said we ought to shorten sail anyway, out of common prudence.
  • economic: It threatens to destroy this government's reputation for economic prudence.

Modifies a noun

  • demand: Prudence demands that an amount equivalent to a maximum of one year's expenditure be kept in reserve.
  • trustee: Duty of prudence Trustees must: ( 6 ) ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent.
  • criterion: The power of investment is further restricted by the need to apply commercial prudence criteria as provided under the Trustee Act 2000.

Noun used with modifier

  • demand: Even the harvesting of the cocoa pods demands prudence as a stray machete chop could damage the delicate tree irreparably.

Preposition: of

  • assumption: Adequate cash flow projections ( prudence of assumptions ).

Preposition: as

  • virtue: In this respect both authors are following Aristotle, who names intuition, science, wisdom and prudence as intellectual virtues.
Prudence Quotes

The softest breeze to fairest flowers gives birth: Think not that Prudence dwells in dark abodes, She scans the future with the eye of gods.

—Wordsworth,William

Prudence is the other woman in Gordon's life.

—Anonymous

prudence Quotes

The awful daring of a moment's surrender Which an age of prudence can never retract. 306

—Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

Self-denial isnot avirtue: it isonly theeffect of prudence on rascality.

—Shaw, George Bernard

I hate to see prudence clinging to the green suckers of youth; 'tis like ivy round a sapling, and spoils the growth of the tree.

—Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to makethantobuy.Thetaylordoesnot attempttomakehis ownshoe†All ofthemfind itfor their interestto employ their whole industry in a way in which they have some advantage over their neighbours and to purchase with a part of its produce†whatever else they have occasion for† What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom† Would it be a reasonable law to prohibit the importation of all foreign wines, merely to encourage the making of claret and burgundy in Scotland?

—Smith, Adam