prowess English · revision 1313

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹaʊɪs/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpraʊ(w)əs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|prouesse]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|proece|t=prowess, brave deed]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''prou'', a later form of ''prud'' “brave, valiant”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Vulgar Latin ''*prōdis''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[proud]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An act of bravery (probably 1225).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1300 the word meant military bravery combined with skill in combat.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) A Middle English sense of moral goodness is obsolete.^(OED 1989) The sense of exceptional skill in any field, as on the football field, is recorded from 1916^(OED 1989) and is now common.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary) The OED notes the word was often one syllable in the 15th–17th centuries.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably 1225 – a brave deed.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * about 1290 – valour, martial daring.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1374 – moral goodness, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1916 – exceptional skill in a field.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Exceptional skill or ability in a particular field.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Great bravery or skill, especially in battle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prowessed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prow]]

+ * [[proud]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}