Standing amidst the crowd at the end of the game, feeling tears of joy well up in my eyes for our Salina Basketball team, I heard many people say how “proud” they were of our boys. As I drove home I thought, Proud just does not quite say it all….so I did a word etimology (history of the word) search….
proud |proud|
adjective
1 feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated: a proud grandma of three boys | she got nine As and he was so proud of her.
(of an event, achievement, etc.) causing someone to feel this way : we have a proud history of innovation.
ORIGIN late Old English prūt, prūd [having a high opinion of one’s own worth,] from Old French prud ‘valiant,’ based on Latin prodesse ‘be of value.’ The phrase proud flesh dates back to late Middle English , but the sense [slightly projecting] is first recorded in British dialect of the 19th cent.
I love the origin of the word – “to be of value”, “valiant”. But, we are all of value, aren’t we? Let us look further at the origin of the word….Old French prud ‘valiant’…
valiant |ˈvalyənt|
adjective
possessing or showing courage or determination : she made a valiant effort to hold her anger in check | a valiant warrior.
DERIVATIVES
valiantly adverb
ORIGIN Middle English (also in the sense [robust, well-built] ): from Old French vailant, based on Latin valere ‘be strong.’
Valiant – possessing or showing courage or determination. That is what really fits our Wildcat Basketball Team and Coaches. Our Basketball Team and Coaches showed determination, which is a word based upon “be strong”.
Yes, I would say our boys and their coaches showed great determination and strength. We can rightly call then Valiant Wildcats! And, yes, we, as a community are very proud of all of you! Congratulations!