prudes
|prudes|
/pruːdz/
(prude)
excessive modesty
Etymology
'prude' originates from French, specifically the word 'prude' (feminine), where the Old French root 'prud' meant 'prudent' or 'worthy' (derived from Latin 'probus' meaning 'good, honest').
'prude' changed from Old French 'prud'/'prude' and was borrowed into English (from French) by the late 16th century; over time the form 'prude' became established in modern English.
Initially it meant 'worthy, prudent, modest', but over time it evolved into the current meaning of someone 'excessively modest or easily shocked, especially regarding sexual matters'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is excessively concerned with propriety or modesty, especially about sexual matters; someone easily shocked by sexual topics.
Many people call their neighbors prudes for refusing to discuss relationships openly.
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Noun 2
a person who is overly conventional or strait-laced in manners or morals; sometimes used humorously to describe someone uptight.
At the party, the teens joked that the chaperones were prudes.
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Last updated: 2025/10/28 06:19