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courage

[ kur-ij, kuhr- ]
/ ˈkɜr ɪdʒ, ˈkʌr- /
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noun
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.
Obsolete. the heart as the source of emotion.

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Idioms about courage

    have the courage of one's convictions, to act in accordance with one's beliefs, especially in spite of criticism.

Origin of courage

1250–1300; Middle English corage<Old French, equivalent to cuer heart (<Latin cor;see heart) + -age-age

synonym study for courage

1. Courage, bravery, valor, bravado refer to qualities of spirit and conduct. Courage permits one to face extreme dangers and difficulties without fear: to take (or lose) courage. Bravery implies true courage with daring and an intrepid boldness: bravery in a battle. Valor implies heroic courage: valor in fighting for the right. Bravado is now usually a boastful and ostentatious pretense of courage or bravery: empty bravado.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT COURAGE

What does courage mean?

Courage is the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain.

A close synonym is bravery. Showing courage is often thought of as facing such situations without fear, but it also involves facing them despite fear. In other words, someone who has courage might not be fearless, but they face the dangerous, difficult, or frightening situation anyway.

The adjective courageous means having, showing, or done with courage. It can be used to describe people who have courage, or the actions of such people when they face negative situations resolutely. A close synonym is brave.

Example: We should all show our appreciation for the courage of our first responders, who face danger every day but still, somehow, decide to show up and put the wellbeing of other people before their own safety.

Where does courage come from?

The first records of the word courage come from the 1200s. It comes from the Old French corage, from cuer, meaning “heart” (this ultimately derives from the Latin cor, meaning “heart”).

The heart is traditionally depicted as the center of human emotion, and the word heart is commonly used in a figurative way to refer to courage or bravery—someone who has courage is said to have a lot of heart. Being courageous means that even when a situation is dangerous or scary—when it makes your heart start beating very fast—you’re still willing to face it. But courage doesn’t always involve facing danger. Something as simple as telling the truth when it will result in negative consequences can be courageous.

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What are some other forms related to courage?

What are some synonyms for courage?

What are some words that share a root or word element with courage

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing courage?

 

 

How is courage used in real life?

Courage is always used positively. It’s associated with heroic people and actions—like firefighters running into burning buildings to save people—but it can be used in many different situations.

 

 

Try using courage!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of courage?

A. bravery
B. resoluteness
C. timidity
D. valor

How to use courage in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for courage

courage
/ (ˈkʌrɪdʒ) /

noun
the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc
the courage of one's convictions the confidence to act in accordance with one's beliefs
take one's courage in both hands to nerve oneself to perform an action
obsolete mind; disposition; spirit

Word Origin for courage

C13: from Old French corage, from cuer heart, from Latin cor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with courage

courage

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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