pride (n.)
Middle English prede, from late Old English pryto, Kentish prede, Mercian pride "unreasonable self-esteem," especially as one of the deadly sins; "haughtiness, overbearing treatment of others; pomp, love of display," from prud (see proud (adj.)).
There is debate whether Scandinavian cognates (Old Norse pryði, Old Swedish prydhe, Danish pryd, etc.) are borrowed from Old French (which got it from Germanic) or from Old English.
In Middle English sometimes also positive, "proper pride, personal honor, good repute; exalted position; splendor," also "prowess or spirit in an animal." It is first attested as the word for groups of lions in a late 15c. book of terms, but pride was not commonly so used until 20c. Used in reference to the erect penis from 15c.
The meaning "that which makes a person or people most proud" is from c. 1300. Paired with prejudice from 1610s.
Pride goþ befor contricioun, & befor falling þe spirit shall ben enhauncid. [Proverbs xvi.18, Wycliffe Bible, 1382]
Another late Old English/Middle English word for "pride, haughtiness, presumption" was orgol, orgel, which survived into 16c. as orgul, orgueil, from Old French orgoill (11c.), which is supposedly from a Germanic word meaning "renowned."
pride (v.)
mid-12c. priden, in the reflexive sense "congratulate (oneself), be proud, indulge in self-esteem;" c. 1200 as "be arrogant, act haughtily," from pride (n.). Middle English also had a verb prouden, from the adjective, and Old English had prytan, prydan "be or become arrogant or haughty." Related: Prided; priding.
Trends of pride
updated on June 02, 2024
Dictionary entries near pride
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prickly
prick-song
pride
prideful
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priest
priestcraft
priestess