Proud (?), a. [Compar.
Prouder (?); superl. Proudest.] [OE.
proud, prout, prud, prut, AS.
prūt; akin to Icel. prūðr stately, handsome,
Dan. prud handsome. Cf. Pride.] 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.
Proud flesh (Med.), a fungous growth
or excrescence of granulations resembling flesh, in a wound or
ulcer.