PRUDENCE female & male English, French Medieval English form of Prudentia, the feminine form of PRUDENTIUS. In France it is both the feminine form and a rare masculine form. In England it was used during the Middle Ages and was revived in the 17th century by the Puritans, in part from the English word prudence, ultimately of the same source. | ||||||||||||||||||||
PRUDENTIUS male Late Roman Late Latin name derived from prudens "prudence, good judgement". This was the name of a 9th-century bishop of Troyes. He is considered a local saint there. |