courageous
- Not deterred by danger or pain; showing bravery and willingness to face difficult or frightening situations.
In a sentence
- The courageous firefighter rushed into the burning building without a moment's hesitation.
- It was courageous of her to speak out against the injustice despite personal risk.
Usage note. 'Courageous' often implies a conscious choice to act despite fear, which distinguishes it from 'fearless', which implies an absence of fear entirely.
Where it comes from
English courageous — “brave, facing danger” · entered English 14th c.
From Old French 'corageus', derived from 'corage' (modern French 'courage'), which came from Vulgar Latin '*coraticum', based on Latin 'cor' meaning 'heart'. The word entered Middle English in the 14th century. The 'heart' metaphor for bravery reflects an ancient association of the heart with emotion and valor (source: Oxford, Merriam-Webster).