I. ˈprīd noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pride, prude, prute, from Old English prȳte, prȳde pride, from prūt, prūd proud — more at proud
1. : the quality or state of being proud: as
a.
(1) : inordinate self-esteem : an unreasonable conceit of superiority (as in talents, beauty, wealth, rank)
(2) usually capitalized : such pride personified as one of the deadly sins
b. : a sense of one's own worth and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of oneself : lofty self-respect : a reasonable or justifiable feeling of one's position
a people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors — T.B.Macaulay
took a proper pride in his skill
c. : a sense of delight or elation arising from some act or possession
parental pride
2. : proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : insolence or arrogance of demeanor : haughty bearing : disdain
let not the foot of pride come against me — Ps 36:11 (Authorized Version)
3.
a. : inordinate show : ostentatious display : magnificence
pride , pomp, and circumstance of glorious war — Shakespeare
b. : showy decoration or adornment : magnificent or splendid ornamentation — used of a bird (as a peacock) in full display
c. : highest pitch : elevation reached : loftiness , prime
in the pride of one's life
4.
a. : something of which one is proud or which excites pride : the best in a group or class : pick
a bold peasantry their country's pride — Oliver Goldsmith
b. obsolete : exalted position : place such as may reasonably incite to pride
5.
a. obsolete : a sense of power : fullness of animal spirits : mettle
b. : sexual desire : lust , heat — used chiefly of a female domestic animal
c. obsolete : wantonness , excess , extravagance , overboldness
6.
a. of lions : company
b. : a showy or pretentious group
the queen surrounded by a pride of gaily dressed ladies
a pompous pride of civic notables
7. prides plural , chiefly Midland : the male genitals
Synonyms:
vanity , vainglory : pride may be commendatory in indicating a justified self-esteem, proper self-respect, or dislike of falling below one's standards that spurs one on, buoys one up, or checks one from base decisions
civic pride that brings them great satisfaction and strengthens their character — J.C.Penney
this pride as an integral feeling of self-respect — J.C.Powys
It may be uncomplimentary in designating an unjustified self-esteem arising from a false, inflated, and pretentious sense of one's worth culminating in arrogant conceit
it is not exactly pride; there is no strut or swagger in it though perhaps just a little condescension — John Burroughs
this race so admirably endowed, with ambitions ever unsatisfied, modeling, in insatiable pride, its gods after its own likeness — Agnes Repplier
vanity indicates an unsound, ill-based false pride and self-glorifying or self-centering with specious concern about trivialities
one of the troubles about vanity is that it grows with what it feeds on. The more you are talked about, the more you will wish to be talked about — Bertrand Russell
her face was intent and fixed upon her image in the mirror; vanity had superseded shyness in her innocent mind — Elinor Wylie
vainglory may suggest excessive or meretricious pride flaunted with boastful arrogance
vainglorie, rivalries, and earthly heats that spring and sparkle out among us in the jousts — Alfred Tennyson
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English priden, pruden, from pride, prude, n.
transitive verb
1. : to indulge (as oneself) in pride : take credit to : rate highly : plume
pride herself upon her skill
2. : to make (as a person) feel proud : infect or fill with pride
3. obsolete
a. : adorn , glorify
b. of a bird : to cause (the feathers) to spread in display
intransitive verb
1. : to be or grow proud — sometimes used with it
2. : to pride oneself or take pride in or over something
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: sand pride ; also : a larval lamprey