prudence

noun

1. (uncountable)The quality or state of being prudent: circumspection and good judgment in knowing how best to act; (countable, archaic) an instance of this.

   “[T]here are ſo many concurrencies vvhich have their attending cheques; vvhich poſſible are to be, but actually, vvere not improved in remedy that the prevalence of the Fire againſt, and in deſpight of thoſe vvonted prudences, and uſual reſiſtances, and the Latitude of effects, ſeconding ſuch a neglect of impending means, vvhere ſo vvell underſtood, and ſo dextrouſly at other times practiſed; […]”

   “Concerning intellectual Habits or the genuine effects of theſe acts in the underſtanding Faculty, and they are divers and diverſly expreſſed by thoſe that have treated thereof. […] Prudence, vvhich is principally in reference to actions to be done, the due means, order, ſeaſon, method of doing or not doing.”

   “Prudence, like experience, must be paid for.”

   “[U]nder pretence of carrying in a pitcher of vvater, he entered the priſon, though, his prudence having prevented him from telling the ſentinel the real motive of his viſit, he vvas obliged to make his conference vvith the priſoner a very ſhort one.”

   “Novv as I don't much chuſe to have my girls go to theſe ſort of places often, vvhich is a prudence that I dare ſay you approve as much as myſelf, I vvould vviſh to have the moſt made of them at once; […]”

2. (specifically, uncountable)Synonym of frugality (“the quality of avoiding unnecessary expenditure; economy, parsimony, thrift, thriftiness”).
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Synonym of providence (“preparation for the future; foresight”).

   “For 'tis my ſetled Opinion, that Divine Prudence is often, at leaſt, converſant in a peculiar manner about the Actions of Men, and the things that happen to Them, or have a neceſſary Connexion vvith the One, or the Other, or Both.”

4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Synonym of wisdom (“an element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise; wise advice”).

   “Children here ye the fathers diſcipline, and attend that you may knovve prudence.”

   “[H]e [Pythagoras] vvent from Ægypt to the Perſians, (not to Perſia, as ſome conceive) and reſigned himſelf to the moſt exact prudence of the Magi, to be formed.”

name

1. A female given name from English, one of the Puritan virtue names.