English Explanatory Dictionary

prowess

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Skillfulness or extraordinary ability in a particular area of expertise; dexterity, mastery, or proficiency.
  2. Distinguished bravery or courage, especially in battle; heroism.
  3. An act of prowess.
  4. An act of adroitness or dexterity.
  5. An act of distinguished bravery or courage; a heroic deed.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɹaʊɪs/ /ˈpɹaʊəs/ /ˈpraʊ(w)əs/ /ˈpɹæɔəs/ [ˈpɹæɔɜs] en-au-prowess.ogg

Word forms

prowess prowesses

Etymology

From Middle English prowesse, prouwesse, proues, prouesce, prouesse (“bravery in battle; act of bravery; excellence; nobility of character; intelligence”), from Old French proeche, proesce, proeësche (“goodness; excellence; bravery”), from Old French preu, prou, prouz, proz, pruz (“good; excellent; brave”). Compare English proud.

Synonyms

mastery expertise competence valor

Antonyms

incompetence ineptitude cowardice

Related words

prow

Derived words

prowessed superprowess

Translations

Armenian: խիզախություն Bulgarian: храброст Czech: hrdinství Czech: neohroženost Czech: odvaha Dutch: heldenmoed Dutch: dapperheid Dutch: heldendaad Esperanto: braveco Finnish: sankaruus Finnish: urheus French: prouesse French: héroïsme French: exploit French: fait d'armes French: haut fait Galician: proeza German: Heldenmut German: Tapferkeit Greek: ανδρεία Irish: calmacht Italian: prodezza Japanese: 武勇 Korean: 무용 Māori: riri Portuguese: proeza Russian: хра́брость Russian: у́даль Russian: отва́га Sanskrit: शवस् Serbo-Croatian: одважност Serbo-Croatian: odvažnost Spanish: proeza Swedish: tapperhet Swedish: hjältemod Turkish: cesaret Turkish: kahramanlık Turkish: yiğitlik Turkish: yüreklilik
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