pride

Definition

1. a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get when you, or someone connected with you, have achieved something special

2. a feeling of respect for yourself

3. a group of lions

4. a public event held to celebrate LGBT identity and culture

View the full definition in the Macmillan Dictionary.

Origin and usage

The noun pride first appeared in English at the beginning of the 14th century and comes from the late Old English ‘pryto’ which was derived from the adjective ‘prūt’ or ‘prūd’ meaning ‘proud’.

Examples

The noun pride has a number of different meanings, as well as appearing in several fixed expressions. The meaning that is the focus of this post is a relatively new one that has recently been added to the Open Dictionary, meaning 4 above. It refers both to the confidence and self-respect felt by previously marginalized groups and to expressions of this feeling in a public way, especially in parades and other events. June is Pride Month in the UK and across the globe and is an opportunity both to recognize and celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ people and to raise awareness of continuing problems faced by the community. The symbol of Pride is the rainbow flag and the month of June was chosen in order to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which took place in June 1969 in response to police raids on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York.