A Pride of Lions and the Sin of Pride
Pride is satisfaction in your own achievements, and also excessive self-regard. It is the only collective noun for a group of lions.
Pride is a feeling of deep satisfaction in your own achievements, and also an excessive opinion of yourself. The same word covers a virtue and a vice, and medieval theology chose the vice: *superbia*, pride, headed the list of seven deadly sins as the root from which the others grew. Modern English keeps both readings, and only the context tells you which is meant. A group of lions is a *pride*, from the animal's bearing, and *Pride* is now also the name of LGBT celebrations.
- Satisfaction in achievement. *Pride in her work.*
- Excessive self-regard. *Blinded by pride.*
- A group of lions. *A pride of lions.*
- Proud — the adjective. *Proud of you.*
- Pride of place — the best position. *Pride of place.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | pride | Great pride. |
| Adjective | proud | Proud. |
| Adverb | proudly | Proudly. |
| Verb | pride | Pride oneself on. |
| Latin | superbia | Pride, the sin. |
- She takes pride in her work.Virtue.
- Pride comes before a fall.Vice.
- A pride of lions rested in the shade.Animals.
Pride in phrases
- Pride of place — the most prominent position
- Pride comes before a fall — a compression of a biblical proverb
- Swallow your pride — to accept humiliation for a greater good
- Take pride in — to care about doing something well
- Pride and joy — a person's most treasured possession
Old English *pryde*, from *prud*, proud, itself probably from Old French *prud*, valiant or worthy.
Why does pride mean both a good and a bad thing?
The same self-regard reads as dignity or as arrogance depending on degree, and English never separated the two into different words.
Why is a group of lions a pride?
The collective noun dates from the fifteenth century, apparently from the animals' proud bearing.