prudhommie

English

Etymology

From Middle French preudhommie; later reborrowed from French prud’homie.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹuːdɒmi/, /pɹuːdəˈmiː/

Noun

prudhommie (uncountable)

1. (rare, now historical) Character typical of a prudhomme; trustworthiness, loyalty. [from 15th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, Essays, III.12:

     Shall I say thus much by the way? That I see a certaine image of bookish or scholastical preud'hommie onely, which is in a maner in use amongst us, held and reputed in greater esteeme than it deserveth, and which is but a servant unto precepts, brought under by hope, and constrained by fear?