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post, a post carrying a letter for a penny; also, a mail carrier. -- Penny wise, wise or prudent only in small matters; saving small sums while losing larger; -- used chiefly in the phrase, penny wise and pound foolish.

; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons. Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy. Shak.

king forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state. Locke. Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life Tillotson.

Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them; prudent in preparing for future exigencies; cautious; economical; -- sometimes followed by of; as, aprovident man; an animal provident of the future. And of our good and of our dignity, How provident he is. Milton.

The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality. Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing. Sir M. Hale. Prudence supposes the value of the end to…

hment; punitive. God . . . may make moral evil, as well as natural, at the same time both prudential and punitory. A. Tucker.

Prudent; wise; hence, crafty; artful; wily. [Obs.] Clerks be full subtle and full quaint. Chaucer.

ving or entering on a project or measure without due deliberation and caution; opposed to prudent; said of persons; as, a rash statesman or commander.

pers. An orderly life so far as others are able to observe us is now and then produced by prudential motives or by dint of habit; but without seriousness there can be no religious principle at the bottom, no course of conduct from religious motives; in a word, there can be no religion. Paley. Religion [was] not, as too…

puted vile in your sight Job xviii. 3. The king your father was reputed for A prince most prudent. Shak.

; yielding; not disposed to resist or murmur. A firm, yet cautious mind; Sincere, thought prudent; constant, yet resigned. Pope.

Having nice discernment and powers of judging; prudent; grave; sagacious. All you sage counselors, hence! Shak.

tutor being seasoned with the love of the truth." Fuller. Season their younger years with prudent and pious principles. Jer. Taylor.

e, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." Shak. The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. xiv. 15.

ath bounds and stays." Herbert. The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king. Bacon. With prudent stay he long deferred The rough contention. Philips.

Adapted or likely to excite terror, awe, or dread; dreadful; formidable. Prudent in peace, and terrible in war. Prior. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. Deut. vii. 21.

Without thrift; not prudent or prosperous in money affairs. -- Thrift"less*ly, adv. -- Thrift"less*ness, n.

Not prudent; not discreet; ill advised. Shak.

Impolitic; imprudent. [Obs.] Shak.

Impolitic; imprudent.