Etymologically
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prudenter

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Forms

prūdenter (comparative prūdentius, superlative prūdentissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prūdēns (“foreseeing, wise”) + -ter.[2][1] De Vaan explains prūdēns as the regular outcome of *prowidēns, from videō (“to see”), which he traces to Proto-Indo-European *uid-eh₁- (“to see”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from the Rhetorica ad Herennium.[4]

Semantic evolution

It means with practical understanding, wisely: Cicero says that no one can speak well who does not understand wisely.[2] It also means cautiously or discreetly, as when Curtius says that a commander pursued the fleeing enemy with more caution than eagerness.[2] In Medieval Latin it can mean courageously.[5]

Timeline

  • 86/82 BC – the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it.[4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of wise understanding.[2][4]
  • 1st century AD – Curtius of a cautious pursuit.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. With practical understanding, wisely, prudently, sagaciously.[2][1]
  2. Cautiously, discreetly.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Courageously.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill