COURAGE • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Courage

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/kˈərədʒ/ /kˈərɪdʒ/ Listen

noun

Courage n.

1.

The heart; spirit; temper; disposition. (Obs.) "So priketh hem nature in here corages." "My lord, cheer up your spirits; our foes are nigh, and this soft courage makes your followers faint."

2.

Heart; inclination; desire; will. (Obs.) "I'd such a courage to do him good."

3.

That quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear, or fainting of heart; valor; boldness; resolution. "The king-becoming graces... Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them." "Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it."

Synonyms: Heroism; bravery; intrepidity; valor; gallantry; daring; firmness; hardihood; boldness; dauntlessness; resolution. See Heroism. Courage, Bravery, Fortitude, Intrepidity, Gallantry, Valor. Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear. Bravery is daring and impetuous courage, like that of one who has the reward continually in view, and displays his courage in daring acts. Fortitude has often been styled "passive courage," and consist in the habit of encountering danger and enduring pain with a steadfast and unbroken spirit. Valor is courage exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats; it is never used figuratively. Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage. Gallantry is adventurous courage, which courts danger with a high and cheerful spirit. A man may show courage, fortitude, or intrepidity in the common pursuits of life, as well as in war. Valor, bravery, and gallantry are displayed in the contest of arms. Valor belongs only to battle; bravery may be shown in single combat; gallantry may be manifested either in attack or defense; but in the latter case, the defense is usually turned into an attack.

verb

Courage v. t. To inspire with courage; to encourage. (Obs.) "Paul writeth unto Timothy... to courage him."

See images of 'Courage'

Etymology of 'Courage'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Courage" Quotes from Famous Books

... portraiture, and the merely frivolous side of his character is presented with disproportionate prominence. James Stuart had stronger qualities for good or evil than Thackeray seems to have found in him. Some of his contemporaries denied him the credit of man's ordinary courage; he has even been accused of positive cowardice; but there does not seem to be the slightest ground for such an accusation. Studied with the severest eye, his various enterprises, and the manner in which he bore himself throughout them, would seem ...

— A History of the Four Georges, Volume I (of 4) • Justin McCarthy

... bound her to a stake. Soon the water came up to her face. She saw it go over the head of a poor old woman, whom they had tied farther out than herself. She saw her death struggles; she heard her gasp for breath, as she choked and strangled in the yellow waves. Ah! she must have had courage from the Lord, or that sight would have made her young heart fail. Once more, and for the last time, the king's officer asked her to make the promise never to attend a conventicle again. He urged it, for he pitied her youth and innocence. Her friends and neighbours begged ...

— The Island Home • Richard Archer

... reject it; for tho' it might have suited my uncle Toby's character as a soldier excellently well,—and had he not accustomed himself, in such attacks, to whistle the Lillabullero, as he wanted no courage, 'tis the very answer he would have given; yet it would by no means have done for me. You see as plain as can be, that I write as a man of erudition;—that even my similies, my allusions, my illustrations, my metaphors, are erudite,—and that I must sustain my character ...

— The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman • Laurence Sterne

... WHITE. Courage, sir, That makes or man or woman look their goodliest. Die like the torn fox dumb, but never whine Like that poor ...

— Queen Mary and Harold • Alfred Lord Tennyson

... book Scholars learned in their childhead For they of women beware should in age, And for to love them ever be in dread. Sith to deceive is set all their courage, They say peril to cast is advantage, Namely, of such as men have in been wrapped: For many a man, by woman ...

— Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse • Various

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