courage

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱerd-
2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱḗr ~ *ḱr̥dés
3. Proto-Italic*kord
4. Latincor n
5. Latin*corem
6. Vulgar Latin*corāticum
7. Old Frenchcorage
8. Middle Englishcorage
9. English todaycourage

From Middle English corage, from Old French corage (French courage), from Vulgar Latin *corāticum, from Latin cor (“heart”). Distantly related to cardiac (“of the heart”), which is from Greek, but from the same Proto-Indo-European root. Displaced Middle English elne, ellen, from Old English ellen (“courage, valor”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 15th–17th c. To encourage.