The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
prudery — 1709, from PRUDE (Cf. prude) + ERY (Cf. ery). The peculiarity of prudery is to multiply sentinels, in proportion as the fortress is less threatened. [Victor Hugo] … Etymology dictionary
prudery — [pro͞o′dər ē] n. [Fr pruderie] the quality or condition of being prudish … English World dictionary
prudery — [[t]pru͟ːdəri[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) Prudery is prudish behaviour or attitudes … English dictionary
prudery — prude ► NOUN ▪ a person who is easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity. DERIVATIVES prudish adjective prudery noun. ORIGIN from French prudefemme good woman and true … English terms dictionary
prudery — noun (plural eries) Date: 1709 1. the characteristic quality or state of a prude 2. a prudish act or remark … New Collegiate Dictionary
prudery — /prooh deuh ree/, n., pl. pruderies for 2. 1. excessive propriety or modesty in speech, conduct, etc. 2. pruderies, prudish actions, phrases, or words. [1700 10; < F pruderie. See PRUDE, ERY] * * * … Universalium
prudery — noun a) The condition of being prudish; prudishness b) Prudish behaviour Syn: prudishness … Wiktionary
prudery — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. propriety; prudishness, stiffness, coyness, primness, preciousness. See affectation. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. stuffiness, primness, priggishness, strictness; see behavior 1 , courtesy 1 … English dictionary for students
prudery — prud|er|y [ˈpru:dəri] n [U] the behaviour or attitude of people who are too easily shocked by things relating to sex used to show disapproval … Dictionary of contemporary English
prudery — prud|er|y [ prudəri ] noun uncount prudish behavior … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
