different between valorous vs tough

English

Alternative forms

• valourous

Etymology

From Old French valeureux.

Adjective

valorous (comparative more valorous, superlative most valorous)

1. Having or displaying valour.
   • c. 1490, William Caxton (translator), The Boke of Eneydos, Westminster, Preface,^[1]

     this present booke compyled by virgyle ryght subtyl and Ingenyous oratour & poete Intytuled Eneydos hath be translated oute of latyn in to comyn langage In whiche may alle valyaunt prynces and other nobles see many valorous fayttes of armes.

   • c. 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act IV, Scene 4,^[2]

     […] he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the hands of one, as he thinks, the most brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.

   • 1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 15,^[3]

     […] I shall be at York—at the head of my daring and valorous fellows, as ready to support any bold design as thy policy can be to form one.

   • 1929, Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, New York: Scribner, Book I, Chapter 10, p. 70,^[4]

     He held up the glass. “To your valorous wounds. To the silver medal.”

   • 2004, Andrea Levy, Small Island, London: Review, Chapter Twelve, p. 139,^[5]

     There are many valorous stories told of her, which enthral grown men as well as children.

Synonyms

• valiant

Derived terms

• valorously

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “valorous”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Middle English tough, towgh, tou, to?, from Old English t?h (“tough, tenacious, holding fast together; pliant; sticky, glutinous, clammy”), from Proto-West Germanic *t??h(?), from Proto-Germanic *tanhuz (“fitting; clinging; tenacious; tough”), from Proto-Indo-European *den?- (“to bite”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: t?f, IPA^(key): /t?f/
• Rhymes: -?f
• Homophone: tuff

Adjective

tough (comparative tougher, superlative toughest)

1. Strong and resilient; sturdy.

   The tent, made of tough canvas, held up to many abuses.

2. (of food) Difficult to cut or chew.

   To soften a tough cut of meat, the recipe suggested simmering it for hours.

3. Rugged or physically hardy.

   Only a tough species will survive in the desert.

4. Stubborn.

   He had a reputation as a tough negotiator.

5. (of weather etc) Harsh or severe.
6. Rowdy or rough.

   A bunch of the tough boys from the wrong side of the tracks threatened him.

7. (of questions, etc.) Difficult or demanding.

   This is a tough crowd.

8. (material science) Undergoing plastic deformation before breaking.

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

tough

1. (slang) Used to indicate lack of sympathy

   If you don't like it, tough!

Translations

Noun

tough (plural toughs)

1. A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.

Translations

Verb

tough (third-person singular simple present toughs, present participle toughing, simple past and past participle toughed)

1. To endure.
2. To toughen.

Derived terms

• tough out

Translations

Anagrams

• ought

German

Etymology

From English tough; see also German taff.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /taf/

Adjective

tough (comparative tougher, superlative am toughsten or am toughesten)

1. (slang) Alternative form of taff (“tough; robust; assertive and not overly sensitive”)

Declension

declension with am toughsten

declension with am toughesten

Further reading

• “tough” in Duden online

Middle English

Noun

tough

1. Alternative form of tow