First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
fortitude
noun for·ti·tude \ˈfȯr-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\
: mental strength and courage that allows someone to face danger, pain, etc.
Full Definition of FORTITUDE
1
: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage
2
obsolete : strength
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Examples of FORTITUDE
- … everyone in the family was succored by Elizabeth's fortitude and steadfastness. —Nicholas Fox Weber, The Clarks Of Cooperstown, 2007
- But now Frum, by having the fortitude to revisit that bizarre era, has half-persuaded me that the '70s, a partial negation of the '60s, in one way, were a partial confirmation of them in another. —Christopher Hitchens, Civilization, April/May 2000
- He learned that war was a hurly-burly of violence in which men prevailed through imagination and the fortitude to struggle on despite reverses. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
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Origin of FORTITUDE
Middle English, from Latin fortitudin-, fortitudo, from fortis
Related to FORTITUDE
- Synonyms
- backbone, constancy, fiber, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk
- Antonyms
- spinelessness
Rhymes with FORTITUDE
altitude, amplitude, aptitude, attitude, certitude, comfort food, consuetude, crassitude, desuetude, finger food, finitude, gratitude, habitude, hebetude, interlude, lassitude, latitude, longitude, magnitude, mansuetude, multitude, negritude, platitude, plenitude, promptitude, pulchritude, quietude, rectitude, seminude, servitude, solitude, turpitude, vastitude
FORTITUDE Defined for Kids
fortitude
noun for·ti·tude \ˈfȯr-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\
Definition of FORTITUDE for Kids
: strength of mind that lets a person meet danger, pain, or hardship with courage
Learn More About FORTITUDE
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Next Word in the Dictionary: fortitudinousPrevious Word in the Dictionary: fortississimoAll Words Near: fortitude
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