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Today it means

fortitude

courage in pain

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Where does the word "fortitude" come from? It comes from Latin fortitudo, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

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Where does the word "fortitude" come from? It comes from Latin fortitudo, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Fortitude’s story begins in Latin: fortitudo meant “strength.” From 'fortis', strong. It reached English by 1400s as fortitude. One of the four cardinal virtues. Today, fortitude means courage in pain.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fortitudo "strength", from 'fortis', strong.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s fortitude "strength", one of the four cardinal virtues.

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