different between bravery vs mettle

English

Etymology

French braverie

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?e?v.?.?i/, /?b?e?v.?i/

Noun

bravery (usually uncountable, plural braveries)

1. (usually uncountable) Being brave, courageousness.
2. (countable) A brave act.
3. Splendor, magnificence
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 34:

     Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day,

     And make me travel forth without my cloak,

     To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,

     Hiding thy brav'ry in their rotten smoke?

   • In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon

Synonyms

• (being brave): bravehood, braveness, courageousness, fearlessness; courage, pluck, valor; see also Thesaurus:courage

Related terms

• bravado
• brave
• bravure

Translations

English

Etymology

1580s, originally a variant of metal, which had a figurative sense until the early 18th century.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?m?t.l?/, /?m?.t?l/
• Rhymes: -?t?l
• Homophones: metal, medal, meddle (in accents with flapping)

Noun

mettle (usually uncountable, plural mettles)

1. A quality of endurance and courage.

   Synonyms: courage, heart, spirit

   • 2001, Harry J. Alexandrowicz, Testing your Mettle: Tough Problems and Real-world Solutions for Middle and High School Teachers, page xiii

     Please read on and discover the issues in education that test the mettle of those who experience this world every day.
2. Good temperament and character.
3. (obsolete) Metal; a metallic substance.

Derived terms

• mettlesome

Translations

References