Valiances

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being brave in facing difficulties or challenges
2. The quality of showing courage through actions and decisions in the face of adversity
3. A characteristic of demonstrating boldness and resilience when confronted with fear or danger

Etymology: "Valiances" is simply the plural of "valiance," so the history belongs to the singular. The noun came into Middle English as "valiaunce," taken from Anglo-Norman "vaillaunce" and Old French "vaillance." Those French forms are built on "vaillant," meaning "strong" or "brave," which descends from the Latin "valere," "to be strong, be well." That same Latin root gave English "valor" and "value," so the courage in this word and the worth in "value" share a single ancestor: the idea of being sturdy and capable.

Synonyms: courage, bravery, valor, fortitude, heroism

Antonyms: cowardice, fear, timidity, weakness, insecurity