Hardship
/ˈhɑːrd.ʃɪp/noun
A condition of severe suffering, deprivation, or difficulty.
Did you know?The second half, -ship, is the same ancient Germanic idea behind words like friendship and leadership: a state or condition, so hardship originally meant the condition of being hard.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
heardscip
“a state of being hard, severe, or austere”
Middle English
ME
hardship
“severity, harsh treatment, difficulty”
16th Century
English
hardship
“a difficult or painful condition; adversity”
Modern English
English
hardship
“severe suffering or deprivation; difficult circumstances”
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