Heroism

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Heroism \Her"o*ism\ (?; 277), n. [F. h['e]ro["i]sme.]
     The qualities characteristic of a hero, as courage, bravery,
     fortitude, unselfishness, etc.; the display of such
     qualities.
     [1913 Webster]
  


           Heroism is the self-devotion of genius manifesting
           itself in action.                        --Hare.
  
     Syn: {Heroism}, {Courage}, {Fortitude}, {Bravery}, {Valor},
          {Intrepidity}, {Gallantry}.
  
     Usage: Courage is generic, denoting fearlessness or defiance
            of danger; fortitude is passive courage, the habit of
            bearing up nobly under trials, danger, and sufferings;
            bravery is courage displayed in daring acts; valor is
            courage in battle or other conflicts with living
            opponents; intrepidity is firm courage, which shrinks
            not amid the most appalling dangers; gallantry is
            adventurous courage, dashing into the thickest of the
            fight. Heroism may call into exercise all these
            modifications of courage. It is a contempt of danger,
            not from ignorance or inconsiderate levity, but from a
            noble devotion to some great cause, and a just
            confidence of being able to meet danger in the spirit
            of such a cause. Cf. {Courage}.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  heroism
       n : the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic
           courage when facing danger (especially in battle); "he
           showed great heroism in battle"; "he received a medal for
           valor" [syn: {gallantry}, {valor}, {valour}, {valorousness},
            {valiance}, {valiancy}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  71 Moby Thesaurus words for "heroism":
     Dutch courage, bigheartedness, bigness, boldness, braveness,
     bravery, chivalrousness, chivalry, consequence,
     conspicuous gallantry, courage, courageousness, distinction,
     doughtiness, elevation, eminence, errantry, exaltation, fame,
     fearlessness, gallantness, gallantry, gallantry under fire,
     generosity, generousness, glory, great heart, greatheartedness,
     greatness, greatness of heart, heroicalness, high-mindedness,
     idealism, intrepidity, intrepidness, knight-errantry, knightliness,
     largeheartedness, liberality, liberalness, lionheartedness,
     loftiness, magnanimity, magnanimousness, majesty, manfulness,
     manhood, manliness, martial spirit, military spirit, nobility,
     noble-mindedness, nobleness, notability, openhandedness, pot-valor,
     princeliness, prominence, prowess, renown, soldierly quality,
     spirit, stalwartness, stoutheartedness, stoutness, sublimity,
     valiance, valiancy, valor, valorousness, virtue