prude
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of prude
First recorded in 1695–1705; from French prude “a prude” (noun), “prudish” (adjective), short for prudefemme, Old French prodefeme “worthy or respectable woman,” equivalent to proud + feme
Explanation
Use prude to describe someone who is too concerned with being proper or modest. It is a derogatory label affixed most often to people who are not forthcoming romantically — and it's not very nice. To be prude is to be prudent, or careful. That’s not a bad thing, but prude is usually an insult. A prude might gasp when someone says a bad word. Prude was borrowed from French, short for prude femme "wise and good woman." Though the word took on a negative meaning, Old French prud also meant "capable or brave" and is probably the source of English proud.
Vocabulary lists containing prude
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There also were specific pleas for better responses to psychiatric crisis after such tragedies as the death of Daniel Prude that year in Rochester, New York.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 27, 2023
Once at a hospital, Daniel Prude calmly and appropriately answered questions and said he wasn’t suicidal or homicidal, according to a psychiatrist’s grand jury testimony.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2022
Police confronted 41-year-old Prude in March 2020 after his brother called to say the man needed mental health help.
From Washington Times • Oct. 6, 2022
Nick Bairatchnyi was born in the waning days of indie-rock shoulder shrugging, but there’s a big difference between the ’90s slacker ethos and what his band Prude is up to right now.
From Washington Post • Feb. 16, 2022
“It would be easier if Percy the Prude weren’t such a creep,” she says.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
