courage

Where does the word "courage" come from? It comes from Latin cor, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Courage’s story begins in Latin: cor meant “heart.” The heart was thought to be the seat of feeling and bravery. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as corage. The heart as the seat of feelings, spirit, bravery, from cor. It reached English by 1300s as courage. Settled as the English word for the ability to face fear or difficulty. Today, courage means the ability to face fear, danger, or difficulty without being overcome by it.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cor "heart", the heart was thought to be the seat of feeling and bravery.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval corage "spirit, bravery", the heart as the seat of feelings, spirit, bravery, from cor.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s courage "the ability to face fear, danger, or difficulty", settled as the English word for the ability to face fear or difficulty.