proud Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
    • proud parents
    • proud of his accomplishments
    • a proud moment
    • proud to serve his country
    • a proud name
    • proud princes
  2. adjective satellite having or displaying great dignity or nobility
    gallant; majestic; lofty.
    • a gallant pageant
    • lofty ships
    • majestic cities
    • proud alpine peaks

WordNet

Proud adjective
Etymology
OE. proud, prout, prud, prut, AS. pr&umac;t; akin to Icel. pr&umac;&edh;r stately, handsome, Dan. prud handsome. Cf. Pride.
Wordforms
comparative Prouder ; superlative Proudest
Definitions
  1. Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense; as: (a) Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one's excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous.
    Nor much expect A foe so proud will first the weaker seek. Milton.
    O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty ! Shak.
    And shades impervious to the proud world's glare. Keble.
    (b) Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; -- often with of; as, proud of one's country. "Proud to be checked and soothed." Keble.
    Are we proud men proud of being proud ? Thackeray.
  2. Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious. "Of shadow proud." Chapman. "Proud titles." Shak. " The proud temple's height." Dryden.
    Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud Are mantled with a golden cloud. Keble.
  3. Excited by sexual desire; -- applied particularly to the females of some animals. Sir T. Browne. ✍ Proud is often used with participles in the formation of compounds which, for the most part, are self-explaining; as, proud-crested, proud-minded, proud-swelling.

Webster 1913