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Constancy vs Fortitude - What's the difference?

constancy | fortitude | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between constancy and fortitude

is that constancy is the quality of being constant; steadiness or faithfulness in action, affections, purpose, etc while fortitude is mental or emotional strength that enables courage in the face of adversity.

constancy

English

Noun

(constancies)
  • (uncountable) The quality of being constant; steadiness or faithfulness in action, affections, purpose, etc.
  • * 1871 , , Descent of Man , ch. 7 "On the Races of Man,"
    • Constancy of character is what is chiefly valued and sought for by naturalists.
  • (countable) An unchanging quality or characteristic of a person or thing.
  • * 1602 , , All's Well That Ends Well , act 1, sc. 2,
    • younger spirits . . .
    whose constancies
    Expire before their fashions.

    Related terms

    * constant * constantly

    References

    * * * * Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd ed., 1989. * Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996.

    fortitude

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Mental or emotional strength that enables courage in the face of adversity.
  • * 1612 , , King Henry VIII , act 3, sc. 2:
    • . . . I am able now, methinks,
    Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
    To endure more miseries.
  • * , ch. 1:
    • I shall soon have need for all my fortitude , as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter.
  • * 1906 , , The Mirror of the Sea , ch. 21:
    • She may be saved by your efforts, by your resource and fortitude bearing up against the heavy weight of guilt and failure.
  • * 2012 Jan. 30, , " The Strategist," Time :
    • Mitt Romney . . . charges that Obama is an appeaser who apologizes for America, lacks fortitude and is "tentative, indecisive, timid and nuanced."
  • (archaic) Physical strength.
  • * 1604 , , Othello , act 1, sc. 3:
    • DUKE OF VENICE: The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for
    Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best
    known to you.

    Synonyms

    * (mental or emotional strength) inner strength, moxie, resolve