courage English · revision 5989

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la cor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkʌr.ɪdʒ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English corage, [[bor|fro|corage|t=heart, innermost feelings; temper]], curage (modern French courage),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Vulgar Latin *corāticum, which also gave Italian coraggio and Spanish coraje,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|cor|t=heart]] and the suffix [[-age]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*ḱerd-|alt=*kerd-|t=heart]].^(Etymonline) See [[heart]] and [[cordial]].^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The heart as the seat of feeling, hence spirit, temperament or frame of mind: about 1300 in the OED and Etymonline, probably before 1300 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Barnhart notes that all the senses stem from the notion of the heart as the centre of feeling, thought and character.^(Barnhart 1988) In Middle English corage meant broadly what was in one's mind, intention or purpose (about 1320),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and also liveliness, vigour, confidence and sexual desire, senses now gone.^(OED 1989) Bravery, the quality of mind that meets danger without fear, is from 1375 in the OED, before 1338 in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Old English had ellen in this sense.^(Etymonline) The verb, to encourage, was very common in the 16th century.^(OED 1989) ''Courageous'' is probably from before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – the heart, spirit.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1320 – intention, purpose.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1338 – bravery.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1470–85 – the verb, to encourage.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The quality of mind that lets a person face danger, pain or difficulty without fear; [[bravery]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(the courage of one's convictions)'' The confidence to act on one's beliefs.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[courageous]]

+ * [[discourage]]

+ * [[encourage]]

+ * [[Dutch courage]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cardiac]]

+ * [[heart]]

+ * [[cordial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}