Prudence

AH020387Does prudence mean 'good judgement'?

Not quite, I think.

prudence = to be aware of circumstances and potential consequences

In some contexts you can replace prudence with caution and I think that caution is a relatively good alternative for prudence.

Is prudent the verb form of prudence? And also does prudent have the meaning of 'importance'? Becuase I've read so many times in books such sentences: 'it is very prudent that you do this...' and to me from looking at the context of the sentence it seems prudent means important!?

Prudent means the same as  "reasonable, shrewd", if I'm not mistaken. Importance has utterly different meaning comparing with Prudence.

Is prudent the verb form of prudence?

"Prudence" is the noun; "prudent" is the adjective. (a prudent person)

"Prude" is also a pejorative noun, and "prudish" is a pejorative adjective.

I don't believe there's a verb form.

I can see why you might think "important" fits in the sentence, "It's very prudent

So I guess in all the sentences prudent means 'smart' as in 'it is very smart if you do this'?

Yes. [Y]

Also, "wise."

Thanks

AH020387it is very prudent that you do this.

That's not very idiomatic.

It would be prudent for you to do this is more idiomatic.

Or,

This is the prudent thing to do.

CJ

CalifJim]That's not very idiomatic.

Would a "should" make it any more palatable?

It is altogether fitting and prudent that you should do this. But, in a larger sense,

AvangiWould a "should" make it any more palatable?

Yes. That works for me too.

CJ