The Proud and the Prudish

The Proud and the Prudish The Proud and the Prudish The Proud and the Prudish By Mark Nichol This post discusses two words that because of their disparate meanings are not easily recognized as cognates, as well as a couple of others that are, as a result of disguised spelling, perhaps equally unlikely to be associated. The words detailed here derive ultimately from the Latin verb prodesse, meaning â€Å"useful,† by way of prode (â€Å"advantageous†). The descendant French adjective prud, meaning â€Å"valiant,† was borrowed into English as proud but came to refer not only to esteem of oneself or another but also arrogance. It also pertains to exultation or spirited behavior or to magnificent display. (By extension, it also refers to a raised or swollen prominence, such as when referring to a scar.) The state of feeling proud in the senses of both reasonable and excessive esteem is called pride, and one considered to have too much pride is called prideful and suffers from pridefulness. (In addition, inspired by the regal bearing of lions, a group of these animals is called a pride.) Meanwhile, prowess, meaning sometimes â€Å"bravery† but usually â€Å"skill† (generally in physical feats), derives from prud. Prude, referring to a person of excessive modesty, also stems from prud. In that word’s sense in French of â€Å"brave,† it became part of the compound prudhomme, or â€Å"brave man.† The feminine equivalent, prudefemme, referred to noblewomen, who were expected to demonstrate propriety, but the first element came to pertain to an excess of that quality to the point of priggishness. The quality of being a prude is prudery or prudishness, and such behavior is described as prudish. A related word not easily recognized as such is improve, stemming from prode and meaning â€Å"make better† or â€Å"make good use of.† An act of improving, or something improved, is an improvement, and something that can be improved is improvable. Self-improvement, meanwhile, is an act or process of attempting to improve one’s circumstances in life. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About TalkingYay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other Acclamations20 Classic Novels You Can Read in One Sitting

Overview of The American Academy

Overview of The American Academy The American Academy offers over 230 online courses for high school students. Students enrolled in The American Academy can complete individual courses or work towards an accredited diploma. Courses are self-paced and have a generous 6-month completion deadline, giving students the flexibility to set their own schedules. Accreditation The American Academy is accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, a regional accrediting agency. Degrees and Programs The American Academy offers online courses and high school diploma programs to students of any age. In addition to traditional diplomas, they provide the Dropout Recovery Program designed to help former students complete a high school diploma from their local school districts. Homeschool students can also take a la carte courses, enroll in a math/science bundle, or work towards a diploma. Admissions The American Academy offers open enrollment to all students. Classes start on Monday every week. Typically, each credit requires approximately 120 hours of work. Students can select courses through a shopping cart system, making it easy to tailor the curriculum to individual needs. Interesting Fact Students enrolled in The American Academy receive 50 minutes of one-on-one tutoring time from licensed professionals. Additional tutoring time may be purchased. Contact Information Website:Â  www.theamericanacademy.comPhone: 866-689-1932Address: 175 S. Main, Suite 1130Salt Lake City, UT 84111