Word of the Day: courage
Word class: noun
Simple meaning: the ability to face fear, difficulty, or danger and still take a necessary action.
Listen to the pronunciation
What does courage mean?
Courage does not mean that a person feels no fear. It means that the person can act despite fear or uncertainty. Courage can be physical, such as helping someone during an emergency. It can also be moral, such as telling the truth when silence would be easier.
The word is usually an uncountable noun. We say “She showed courage,” not “She showed a courage.” The adjective is courageous, and the adverb is courageously. The word entered English through Old French and Middle English. Its older roots connect it with the Latin word for “heart.”
Examples
- It took courage to admit the mistake in front of the group.
- The sailor showed courage during the storm.
- Her quiet courage helped the family continue through a difficult winter.
Use the word while you listen
Listen to Pride and Prejudice and notice when Elizabeth Bennet defends her judgment or refuses social pressure. Choose one moment and explain why it shows courage. This exercise helps you connect the word with a character’s decision instead of memorizing a definition alone.
Related words: bravery, resolve, confidence, fortitude.
Swedish: mod · German: Mut · French: courage.
Sources and audio credit
The meaning, pronunciation, and word history were checked against Wiktionary. BookAud wrote the explanation and examples. The US English pronunciation was recorded by Dvortygirl and is available from Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license.