bravado English · revision 2107

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɹɑˈvɑdoʊ/, /bɹəˈvɑdoʊ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|bravade|t=bragging, boasting]]^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) or Spanish ''bravada'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) both [[der|it|bravata|t=bragging, boasting]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''bravare'' “to brag, be defiant”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''bravo'' “brave, bold”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It is related to [[brave]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The ending was reshaped after Spanish words in ''-ado'' already used in English, such as [[desperado]].^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Boastful or pretentiously bold behaviour (1583).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The form ''bravade'' is recorded from 1579.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start it meant an ostentatious show of courage, often meant to intimidate.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In the 17th and 18th centuries it was also a noun for a swaggering fellow, a bully.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The modern word stresses a pretence of bravery that may hide fear.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1579 – ''bravade''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1583 – ''bravado''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – boastful or threatening behaviour.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1653 – a swaggering fellow (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1800 – verb, to show bravado.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Defiant, swaggering behaviour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A false show of courage.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A tendency to show off defiance; foolhardiness.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brave]]

+ * [[bravo]]

+ * [[braggadocio]]

+ * [[desperado]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}