Hardihood
/ˈhɑːr.di.hʊd/noun
Boldness, courage, or audacious confidence, often with a sense of recklessness.
Did you know?Hardihood is built from the same ancient Germanic root as English hard, so its original force was less “polite bravery” and more raw toughness, endurance, and hard-edged daring.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱer-
“to be hard, strong”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*harduz
“hard, bold, brave”
Old English
OE
heard
“hard, severe, strong, brave”
Old English
OE
-hād / -hād
“state, condition, rank”
Middle English
ME
hardihed
“boldness, bravery, audacity”
Modern English
English
hardihood
“boldness, courage, or audacious confidence”