different between courageous vs high-spirited

English

Etymology

From Middle English corajous, from Old French corageus, from corage + -eus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k???e?d??s/
• Rhymes: -e?d??s

Adjective

courageous (comparative more courageous, superlative most courageous)

1. Of a person, displaying or possessing courage.

2. Of an action, that requires courage.

Synonyms

• (person): bold, brave, hardy, valorous
• (act): bold, brave, heroic
• See also Thesaurus:brave

Derived terms

• courageously
• courageousness

Translations

English

Pronunciation

Adjective

high-spirited (comparative more high-spirited, superlative most high-spirited)

1. Possessing a bold nature.
   • 1918, Jack London, "The Princess":

     "She was as fine a figure of a woman as I was a man, as high-spirited and courageous, as reckless and dare-devilish."

2. Energetic, exuberant, or high-strung.
   • 1950 Sept. 25, "Music: Out of the Corner," Time:

     Last week a group of four high-spirited folksters known as the Weavers had succeeded in shouting, twanging and crooning folk singing out of its cloistered corner.

Translations