fortitude

English

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin fortitūdō (“bravery, strength”), from fortis (“brave, strong”).

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈfɔːtɪtjuːd/

Noun

fortitude (plural fortitudes)

1. Mental or emotional strength that enables courage in the face of adversity.
   • 1612, William Shakespeare, King Henry VIII, act 3, sc. 2:

     . . . I am able now, methinks,

     Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,

     To endure more miseries.

   • circa 1794, Jane Austen, Lady Susan, ch. 1:

     I shall soon have need for all my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter.

   • 1906, Joseph Conrad, The Mirror of the Sea, ch. 21:

     She may be saved by your efforts, by your resource and fortitude bearing up against the heavy weight of guilt and failure.

   • 2012 Jan. 30, Fareed Zakaria, "The Strategist," Time:

     Mitt Romney . . . charges that Obama is an appeaser who apologizes for America, lacks fortitude and is "tentative, indecisive, timid and nuanced."

2. (archaic) Physical strength.
   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Othello, act 1, sc. 3:

     DUKE OF VENICE: The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for

     Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best

     known to you.

Synonyms

• (mental or emotional strength): inner strength, moxie, resolve

Translations

mental or emotional strength

• Finnish: mielenlujuus, lujuus, luonteenlujuus
• Khmer: ចិត្ដអត់ធ្មត់ (km) (jət ɑt tmʊət)

• Russian: сила духа (ru) (sila duxa) f
• Swedish: tapperhet (sv)