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heroism

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her⋅o⋅ism

  [her-oh-iz-uhm]
Use heroism in a Sentence
–noun
1. the qualities or attributes of a hero or heroine: He showed great heroism in battle.
2. heroic conduct; courageous action: Pat's returning into the burning building was true heroism.
Origin:
1660–70; hero + -ism; cf. F héroïsme

Synonyms:
1. intrepidity, valor, prowess, gallantry, bravery, courage, daring, fortitude.

Antonyms:
1. cowardice, timidity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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her·o·ism   (hěr'ō-ĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. Heroic conduct or behavior.
  2. Heroic characteristics or qualities; courage.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : heroism
Spanish: heroísmo,
German: das Heldentum,
Japanese: 英雄的行為
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