Bold or daring courage, especially the kind that might be considered reckless or excessive.
From Middle English 'hardihod,' combining 'hardy' (bold) with '-hood' (Old English suffix meaning state or condition, as in 'manhood'). Originally meant the quality of being daring and fearless, evolving to emphasize audacious boldness.
The '-hood' suffix transformed simple adjectives into abstract qualities—'hardhood' is to courage what 'childhood' is to being a child, making it a window into how English speakers turned traits into philosophical concepts.
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