FORTITUDE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does fortitude mean? 

• FORTITUDE (noun)
  The noun FORTITUDE has 1 sense:

1. strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage

  Familiarity information: FORTITUDE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORTITUDE (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 

Catherine had fortitude too; she suffered, but no murmur passed her lips.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Emma heard the sad truth with fortitude.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I cannot leave him even now, without remembering with a pang, at once his modest fortitude and his great sorrow.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the hands of others; a trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir Walter's have found too much.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

That he was surprised by the connection was evident; he sustained it, however, with fortitude, and so far from going away, turned back with them, and entered into conversation with Mr. Gardiner.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It is in scenes of strife and danger—where courage is proved, and energy exercised, and fortitude tasked—that he will speak and move, the leader and superior.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Concern for her unhappiness, and respect for her fortitude under it, must strengthen every attachment.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

"Come," I said, "my dear old fellow, summon all your fortitude: it will be best and easiest for her."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I must pause here, for it requires all my fortitude to recall the memory of the frightful events which I am about to relate, in proper detail, to my recollection.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I had steeled myself to brazen it out, though I was trembling inwardly; but the enormous strength of the man was too much for my fortitude.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)