WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Proud
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [OE. proud, prout, prud, prut, AS. prut; akin to Icel. pruedhr stately, handsome, Dan. prud handsome. Cf. Pride.]
Definition : 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.

Note: 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. Proud flesh (Med.), a fungous growth or excrescence of granulations resembling flesh, in a wound or ulcer.

[Compar. Prouder; superl. Proudest.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913