prowess means skillfulness or extraordinary ability in a particular area of expertise; dexterity, mastery, or proficiency. It carries an Arena rating of 1501, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, prowess ranks #686 of 14,297 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #7,046 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #7,100 of 14,440 for Most Satisfying to Say, #7,152 of 14,445 for Most Beautiful Words.
prowess is pronounced /ˈpɹaʊɪs/.
Why “prowess” is a great word
Exceptional skill in a particular field, or distinguished bravery and valor, especially demonstrated in action. From Middle English *prowesse* (bravery, excellence), from Old French *proece*, *proesce* (goodness, excellence, bravery), itself from Old French *preu*, *prou* (good, excellent, brave). Unlike "expertise," which emphasizes hard-won knowledge, or "bravery," which denotes a fearless heart, prowess implies an innate superiority, a daring competence that turns action into art. It is the surgeon’s flawless incision under duress, the chessmaster’s silent, fifty-move checkmate, the single warrior holding a narrow pass—a brilliance that seems less a learned technique than a force of nature, leaving onlookers to wonder if such grace is a gift or a form of devotion.
Etymology
From Middle English prowesse, prouwesse, proues, prouesce, prouesse (“bravery in battle; act of bravery; excellence; nobility of character; intelligence”), from Old French proeche, proesce, proeësche (“goodness; excellence; bravery”), from Old French preu, prou, prouz, proz, pruz (“good; excellent; brave”). Compare English proud.
noun
- Skillfulness or extraordinary ability in a particular area of expertise; dexterity, mastery, or proficiency.“When in liquor he would make foolish wagers. On one of these too frequent occasions he was boasting of his prowess as a pedestrian and athlete, and the outcome was a match against nature. For a stake of one sovereign he undertook to run all the way to Coventry and back, a distance of something more than forty miles.”
- Distinguished bravery or courage, especially in battle; heroism.“That libertie Poets of late in their invectives have exceeded: they have borne their ſword up where it is not lawfull for a poynado, that is but the page of proweſſe, to intermeddle.”
- An act of prowess.; An act of adroitness or dexterity.“I recollect hearing […] of his [Sir William Hamilton's] simple, independent, meditative habits, ruggedly athletic modes of exercise, fondness for his big dog, etc. etc.: […] I did not witness, much less share in, any of the swimming or other athletic prowesses.”
- An act of prowess.; An act of distinguished bravery or courage; a heroic deed.“Thenne the batails approuched and ſhoue and ſhowted on bothe ſydes / many men ouerthrowen / hurte / & ſlayn and grete valyaunces / proweſſes and appertyces of werre were that day ſhewed […]”
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