Fortitude comes from the Latin word fortis, meaning "strong," and in English it has always been used primarily to describe strength of mind. For a time, the word was also used to mean "physical strength"; William Shakespeare used that sense in Henry VI, Part 1: "Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame / Despairing of his own arm's fortitude." But despite use by the Bard, that second sense languished and is now considered obsolete.
… everyone in the family was succored by Elizabeth's fortitude and steadfastness. Nicholas Fox Weber, The Clarks Of Cooperstown, 2007But now Frum, by having the fortitude to revisit that bizarre era, has half-persuaded me that the '70s, a partial negation of the '60s, in one way, were a partial confirmation of them in another. Christopher Hitchens, Civilization, April/May 2000He learned that war was a hurly-burly of violence in which men prevailed through imagination and the fortitude to struggle on despite reverses. Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988 She has endured disappointments with fortitude and patience. it was only with the greatest fortitude that the Pilgrims were able to survive their first winter in Plymouth
Recent Examples on the WebHow many athletes have stood out with their physical prowess, possessed game-changing potential, were seemingly gifted by God, but lacked the mental fortitude, desire, and savvy to be successful? Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2022 Is Homer signaling fortitude in the face of adversity, or resignation? Carol Strickland, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2022 These include the classiccardinal virtues of fortitude (courage), temperance (moderation), prudence (wisdom) and justice, as well as those named in more recent research: honesty, care, respect and fairness. Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes, 2 May 2022 And the fortitude, from everyone on the floor, those last seven-plus minutes when U-M was down six and struggling to score and a Sweet 16 berth began to slip away. Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2022 The photographer Alexander Chekmenev captured fortitude, desperation and resolve in a city under attack.New York Times, 18 Mar. 2022 The toads’ perseverance is a lesson in fortitude, a demonstration of serious forearm strength. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2022 The Challenge has put contestants through the wringer — testing the limits of their physical endurance, mental fortitude, and social shrewdness. Ew Staff, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2022 Megan Thee Stallion continues to assert her position of fortitude. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin fortitudin-, fortitudo, from fortis — see fortify