courage

noun Etymology: Middle English corage, from Anglo-French curage, from quer, coer heart, from Latin cor — more at heart Date: 14th century mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty Synonyms: courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship. courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty <

the courage to support unpopular causes

>. mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience <

a challenge that will test your mettle

>. spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened <

her spirit was unbroken by failure

>. resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends <

the resolution of pioneer women

>. tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat <

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

>.