| 1. | capable of enduring fatigue, hardship, exposure, etc.; sturdy; strong: hardy explorers of northern Canada. |
| 2. | (of plants) able to withstand the cold of winter in the open air. |
| 3. | requiring great physical courage, vigor, or endurance: the hardiest sports. |
| 4. | bold or daring; courageous: hardy soldiers. |
| 5. | unduly bold; presumptuous; foolhardy. |

har·dy 1 (här'dē) adj. har·di·er, har·di·est
[Middle English, from Old French hardi, past participle of hardir, make hard, embolden, of Germanic origin; see kar- in Indo-European roots.] har'di·ly adv., har'di·ness n. |
| Hardy, Thomas 1840-1928. British writer noted for his Wessex novels, including Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891). |