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FORTITUDE
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("fortitude" is a kind of...):
natural virtue ((scholasticism) one of the four virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) derived from nature)
braveness; bravery; courage; courageousness (a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fortitude"):
backbone; grit; gumption; guts; moxie; sand (fortitude and determination)
Context examples:
An evening with John over the account books usually produced a temporary lull in the culinary enthusiasm, and a frugal fit would ensue, during which the poor man was put through a course of bread pudding, hash, and warmed-over coffee, which tried his soul, although he bore it with praiseworthy fortitude.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
But, instead of proposals for conquering that magnanimous nation, I rather wish they were in a capacity, or disposition, to send a sufficient number of their inhabitants for civilizing Europe, by teaching us the first principles of honour, justice, truth, temperance, public spirit, fortitude, chastity, friendship, benevolence, and fidelity.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
“This is a somewhat heavy call upon your brother's fortitude,” observed the general to Eleanor.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
She watched, observed, reflected, and finally determined that this was not a case of fortitude or of resignation only.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Miss Mills was very glad to see me, and very sorry her papa was not at home: though I thought we all bore that with fortitude.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
She has borne it all, with the fortitude of an angel!
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Not only the anchor of hope, but the footing of fortitude was gone—at least for a moment; but the last I soon endeavoured to regain.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
On her deathbed the fortitude and benignity of this best of women did not desert her.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
With the fortitude of a devoted novitiate, she had resolved at one-and-twenty to complete the sacrifice, and retire from all the pleasures of life, of rational intercourse, equal society, peace and hope, to penance and mortification for ever.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
To be disgraced in the eye of the world, to wear the appearance of infamy while her heart is all purity, her actions all innocence, and the misconduct of another the true source of her debasement, is one of those circumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroine's life, and her fortitude under it what particularly dignifies her character.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
