prowesses

Noun

prowess (countable and uncountable, plural prowesses)

1. (uncountable) Skillfulness or extraordinary ability in a particular area of expertise; dexterity, mastery, or proficiency.
   • When in liquor he would make foolish wagers. On one of these too frequent occasions he was boasting of his prowess as a pedestrian and athlete, and the outcome was a match against nature. For a stake of one sovereign he undertook to run all the way to Coventry and back, a distance of something more...1888 October 14, Ambrose Bierce, “An Unfinished Race”, in The San Francisco Examiner, →OCLC; republished in Can Such Things Be?, Washington, D.C.: The Neale Publishing Company, 1903, →OCLC, page 313

   Synonyms:

   mastery, expertise, competence

   Antonyms:

   incompetence, ineptitude

2. (uncountable) Distinguished bravery or courage, especially in battle; heroism.
   • That libertie Poets of late in their invectives have exceeded: they have borne their ſword up where it is not lawfull for a poynado, that is but the page of proweſſe, to intermeddle.1592, Tho[mas] Nashe, “A Dash through the Dudgen Sonnet against Greene”, in Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters and a Convoy of Verses, […], London: […] Iohn Danter, […], →OCLC...

   Synonyms:

   valor

   Antonyms:

   cowardice

3. An act of adroitness or dexterity.
   • I recollect hearing […] of his [Sir William Hamilton's] simple, independent, meditative habits, ruggedly athletic modes of exercise, fondness for his big dog, etc. etc.: […] I did not witness, much less share in, any of the swimming or other athletic prowesses.1869 July, “Art. VI.—Memoir of Sir William Hamilton, Bart., Professor of Logic and Metaphysics in the University of Edinburgh. By John Veitch, M.A., Professor of Logic and Rhetoric in the University...
4. An act of distinguished bravery or courage; a heroic deed.
   • Thenne the batails approuched and ſhoue and ſhowted on bothe ſydes / many men ouerthrowen / hurte / & ſlayn and grete valyaunces / proweſſes and appertyces of werre were that day ſhewed […]1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum viij”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book V, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 87, recto; republished as H[einrich]...

   Synonyms:

   exploit