different between prudence vs careful

English

Etymology

From Old French prudence, from Latin pr?dentia, alternative form of pr?videntia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?u?d?ns/
• Hyphenation: pru?dence

Noun

prudence (countable and uncountable, plural prudences)

1. The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality.
   • 1876, Samuel Austin Allibone, Prose Quotations from Socrates to Macaulay, J.B. Lippincott, page 597,

     Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing. - Sir Matthew 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. - William Whewell.

Synonyms

• wisdom, forecast, providence, considerateness, judiciousness, discretion, caution, sagacity, circumspection, judgment
• See also Thesaurus:caution

Antonyms

• imprudence, recklessness, rashness

Translations

Anagrams

• uncreped

French

Etymology

From Latin pr?dentia, contrasting from pr?videntia. See prudent, and confer providence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?y.d??s/

Noun

prudence f (plural prudences)

1. prudence, caution, care

Derived terms

• prudence est mère de sûreté

Related terms

• prudent

Further reading

• “prudence” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Alternative forms

• carefull (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English careful, from Old English carful; equivalent to care +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k??f?l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?k?(?)?f?l/

Adjective

careful (comparative more careful, superlative most careful)

1. Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious.

2. Conscientious and painstaking; meticulous.

3. (obsolete) Full of care or grief; sorrowful, sad.
4. (obsolete) Full of cares or anxiety; worried, troubled.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.1:

     Where through long watch, and late daies weary toile, / She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:cautious
• See also Thesaurus:meticulous

Antonyms

• careless

Derived terms

• carefully
• carefulness

Translations

Anagrams

• acreful