I. A foreseeing (very rare): id enim est sapientis providere: ex quo sapientia est appellata prudentia, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 41, 31: “futurorum,” id. Sen. 21, 78.—
II. Acquaintance with a thing, knowledge of a matter, skill in a matter: “juris publici,” Cic. de Or. 1, 60, 256: “juris civilis,” Nep. Cim. 2, 1: “legum,” Cic. Rep. 2, 36, 61; cf. id. Mur. 13, 28: “physicorum,” id. Div. 2, 4, 11: “cani rectoris,” Juv. 12, 32; 10, 48.—
B. Esp., = juris prudentia, Just. Inst. praef. § 2.—
III. Sagacity, good sense, intelligence, prudence, practical judgment, discretion: “prudentia constat ex scientiā rerum bonarum et malarum et nec bonarum nec malarum,” Cic. N. D. 3, 15, 38: “prudentia tribus partibus constare videtur, memoriā, intellegentiā, providentiā,” id. Inv. 2, 53, 160; cf. Auct. Her. 3, 2, 3: prudentia, quam Graeci φρόνησιν, est rerum expetendarum fugiendarumque scientia, Cic. Off. 1, 43, 153: “prudentia cernitur in delectu bonorum et malorum,” id. Fin. 5, 23, 67: “ut medicina valetudinis, sic vivendi ars est prudentia,” id. ib. 5, 6, 16: “civilis prudentia,” statesmanship, id. Rep. 2, 25, 46; id. Inv. 2, 53, 159: “ad omnes res adhibere prudentiam,” id. Att. 12, 4, 2; Col. 12, 57, 6; 1, 1, 1: “rerum fato prudentia major,” Verg. G. 1, 416: “velox,” ready, Pers. 4, 4: “si ratio et prudentia curas aufert,” Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 25.