The word “courage” comes from the Latin word “cor,” which means “heart.” Over time, it took on a metaphorical sense in Old French as “cuerage,” denoting the heart as the seat of feelings and hence signifying inner strength or bravery. This sense was carried into Middle English as “corage.” The idea is that courage originally referred to the feelings, passions, or sentiments one held in the heart and eventually came to mean the quality of mind that enables one to face danger and difficulties without fear.