Prowess

How to spell prowess

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce prowess

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does prowess mean?

1. nounOutstanding skill, expertise, or ability in a particular field or activity.

Prowess in a sentence

• Her technical prowess made her the obvious choice to lead the project.

• The chef's culinary prowess earned the restaurant a second star.

Where does prowess come from?

Language of origin: French

Prowess came into English around the year 1300 from the Old French word proesse (also spelled prouesse), which meant bravery, gallantry, or distinguished skill in battle. That French noun was built on the adjective prou, or preu, meaning brave and valiant, the same word that gave knights the admiring title preux. Trace it back further and you reach the Late Latin prode, meaning useful or beneficial, drawn from the Latin verb prodesse, to be of use or to do good. The original English sense was almost entirely military, describing a warrior's outstanding valour, but over the centuries it broadened to mean exceptional skill or ability of any kind, from athletic to intellectual. The double s ending preserves the old French -esse suffix, which is the same quality-forming ending hiding inside words like largesse and finesse, and remembering that French -ess is the part most likely to trip up the speller.

How the word is built

• prow- (from Old French prou: brave, valiant)
• -ess (noun suffix marking a quality or state)