3 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
prudence
noun
1: discretion in practical affairs [ant: {imprudence}]
2: knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress; "the
servants showed great tact and discretion" [syn: {discretion},
{discreetness}, {circumspection}]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Prudence \Pru"dence\, noun [F., fr. L. prudentia, contr. from
providentia. See {Prudent}, and cf. {Providence}.]
The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of
caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also,
economy; frugality.
Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be
done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of
doing or not doing. --Sir M. Hale.
Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed,
and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is
the relation of right means for given ends. --Whewell.
Syn: Wisdom; forecast; providence; considerateness;
judiciousness; discretion; caution; circumspection;
judgment. See {Wisdom}.
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
224 Moby Thesaurus words for "prudence":
abnegation, abstinence, acumen, advantage, advantageousness,
advisability, anticipation, appropriateness, astuteness, austerity,
austerity program, awareness, beneficialness, calculation, calm,
calmness, canniness, cardinal virtues, care, careful consideration,
carefulness, caution, cautiousness, chariness, charity,
circumspection, circumspectness, common sense, conservatism,
consideration, constraint, contemplation, continence, control,
convenience, cool, cool judgment, custodianship, custody, decency,
deliberate stages, deliberateness, deliberation, desirability,
discreetness, discretion, discrimination, dispassion, eagle eye,
economic planning, economicalness, economy, economy of means,
envisagement, envisionment, evenness, expedience, expediency,
faith, false economy, farseeingness, farsightedness, feasibility,
fitness, fittingness, forecast, foreglance, foregleam, foreglimpse,
forehandedness, foreseeing, foresight, foresightedness,
forethought, fortitude, frugality, frugalness, fruitfulness,
gentleness, gingerliness, golden mean, good judgment,
good management, guard, guardedness, guardianship, happy medium,
hedge, hedging, heed, heedfulness, hesitation, hope, husbandry,
impartiality, insight, invigilation, judgement, judgment,
judiciousness, juste-milieu, justice, keenness, lenity,
longsightedness, looking ahead, lookout, love, management,
meden agan, middle way, mildness, mindfulness, moderateness,
moderation, moderationism, monitoring, natural virtues, neutrality,
nonviolence, nothing in excess, observance, opportuneness,
pacifism, parsimoniousness, parsimony, pawkiness, peeled eye,
penetration, percentage, percipience, perspicacity, planning,
policy, politicness, polity, precaution, prediction, preparation,
preparedness, prepublication, presence of mind, preview, prevision,
prior consultation, proctoring, profit, profitability, propriety,
prospect, prospection, providence, provision,
prudential administration, prudentialism, prudentialness, qui vive,
readiness, reflection, reflectiveness, regardfulness, repose,
restraint, rightness, safeness, safety first, sagaciousness,
sagacity, sageness, sapience, seasonableness, seemliness,
self-abnegation, self-control, self-denial, self-restraint,
serenity, sharp eye, shrewdness, slowness to act, sobriety,
solicitude, sound judgment, soundness of judgment, sparingness,
stability, steadiness, stewardship, suitability,
supernatural virtues, surveillance, tact, temperance,
temperateness, tentativeness, theological virtues, thoroughness,
thoughtfulness, thrift, thriftiness, tight purse strings,
timeliness, tranquillity, uncommunicativeness, unexcessiveness,
unextravagance, unextremeness, unprecipitateness, unwastefulness,
usefulness, via media, vigil, vigilance, wariness, watch,
watch and ward, watchful eye, watchfulness, watching, weather eye,
weighing, wisdom, wit, worthwhileness
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