From Middle English corage, from Old French corage (French courage), from Vulgar Latin *corāticum, from Latin cor (“heart”). Distantly related to cardiac (“of the heart”), which is from Greek, but from the same Proto-Indo-European root. Displaced Middle English elne, ellen, from Old English ellen (“courage, valor”).
- The quality of being confident, not afraid or easily intimidated, but without being incautious or inconsiderate.
- The ability to overcome one’s fear, do or live things which one finds frightening.
- The ability to maintain one’s will or intent despite either the experience of fear, frailty, or frustration; or the occurrence of adversity, difficulty, defeat or reversal. Moral fortitude.