[French, back-formation (influenced by prudent, prudent) from prud'homme, preudhomme, man of merit, virtuous man (from Old French prozdome, preud'ome : proz, preu, valiant, virtuous from Vulgar Latin *prōdis, from Latin prōde, advantageous; see PROUD + de, of + home, man) or obsolete French preudefemme, woman of merit, virtuous woman (from Old French prodefemme, formed from femme, woman, on the model of prozdome, preud'ome, man of merit).]