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definitions

prosper

[pros-per]
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verb (used without object)

to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects; thrive; flourish.

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to make successful or fortunate.

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RELATED WORDS

booming, rank, blooming, growing, thriving, roaring, burgeoning, mushrooming, boomy, exuberant, lush, luxuriant, profuse, prosperous, rampant, rich, robust, successful, thrifty, vigorous

Nearby words

  1. prospecting,
  2. prospective,
  3. prospectively,
  4. prospector,
  5. prospectus,
  6. prosperity,
  7. prosperity gospel,
  8. prospermia,
  9. prospero,
  10. prosperous

Origin of prosper

1425–75; late Middle English prosperen < Latin prosperāre to make happy, derivative of prosperus prosperous
ANTONYMS FOR prosper
1. fail.
SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR prosper ON THESAURUS.COM
Related formsun·pros·pered, adjectiveun·pros·per·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prospering

  • Prospering, he had bethought him of his younger brother, a soldier at home reputed somewhat wild.

    Captain Blood|Rafael Sabatini
British Dictionary definitions for prospering

prosper

verb

(usually intr) to thrive, succeed, etc, or cause to thrive, succeed, etc in a healthy way

Word Origin for prosper

C15: from Latin prosperāre to succeed, from prosperus fortunate, from pro- 1 + spēs hope
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for prospering

prosper

v.

mid-14c., from Old French prosperer (14c.) and directly from Latin prosperare "cause to succeed, render happy," from prosperus "favorable, fortunate, prosperous," perhaps literally "agreeable to one's wishes," from Old Latin pro spere "according to expectation," from pro "for" + ablative of spes "hope," from PIE root *spe- "to flourish, succeed, thrive, prosper" (see speed (n.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper