COURAGE

[cour.age] n [ME corage, fr. OF, fr. cuer heart, fr. L cor--more at heart] (14c): mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty syn 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".