† preu, prew, a. Obs.
Also 4 preus, 5 pru, 5–6 prue, 6 prewe.
[a. OF. preu, prou, pru, nom. preu-z (proz, prous, pruz, 11th c. in Godef.), in mod.F. preux valiant, brave, good:—late L. prōd-is, prōd-em (prōde neut. in Itala): see prow.]
Brave, valiant, doughty, gallant; full of prowess: cf. preux.
| 1340 Ayenb. 83 Ine prouesse byeþ þri þinges to-deld, hardyesse, strengþe, an stedeuestnesse. Non ne is aryȝt preus, þet þise þri þinges ne heþ. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 177 (Harl. MS.) This king of kinges preu was and elate. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 4888 Ector rode forth In gode vertuus Strong knyȝt, hardy and prus. c 1477 Caxton Jason 8 b, The worthy hercules and the noble preu Jason. c 1489 ― Sonnes of Aymon iii. 79 We ben so pru & so good men of armes. 1512 Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) III. 15 The prue king Oriant. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. i. 1 Wherby the prewe and hardy may haue ensample to incourage them in theyr wel doyng. |