Etymology
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hardy (adj.)

c. 1200, "bold, daring, fearless," also "presumptuous, audacious," from Old French hardi "bold, brave, courageous; confident, presumptuous," from past participle of hardir "to harden, be or make bold," from Frankish *hardjan "to make hard" (source also of Old Frisian herda, Old High German herten, Old Norse herða, Gothic gahardjan "make hard"), from Proto-Germanic *hardu- (from PIE root *kar- "hard"). Sense influenced by English hard. Of plants, "able to survive in the open year-round," 1660s. Related: Hardily; hardiness. Hardhede "physical hardiness" is attested from early 15c.

Entries linking to hardy

*kar- 

also *ker-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "hard."

It forms all or part of: -ard; Bernard; cancer; canker; carcinogen; carcinoma; careen; chancre; -cracy; Gerard; hard; hardly; hardy; Leonard; Richard; standard.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit karkatah "crab," karkarah "hard;" Greek kratos "strength," kratys "strong;" "hard;" Old English heard, German hart "solid and firm, not soft."

foolhardy (adj.)

also fool-hardy, mid-13c., folhardi, from fol "fool" (see fool (n.1) + hardi "bold" (see hardy) hence "foolishly brave, bold without judgment or moderation." Compare Old French fol hardi. Related: foolhardiness (mid-13c.); Middle English had also as a noun foolhardiment (mid-15c.).

hardihood (n.)

"quality or condition of being hardy," 1630s, from hardy + -hood.

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Definitions of hardy
1
hardy (adj.)
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships;
hardy explorers of northern Canada
Synonyms: stalwart / stout / sturdy
hardy (adj.)
able to survive under unfavorable weather conditions;
camels are tough and hardy creatures
strawberries are hardy and easy to grow
hardy (adj.)
invulnerable to fear or intimidation;
Synonyms: audacious / brave / dauntless / fearless / intrepid / unfearing
2
Hardy (n.)
United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957);
Synonyms: Oliver Hardy
Hardy (n.)
English novelist and poet (1840-1928);
Synonyms: Thomas Hardy
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near hardy

hard-up

hardware

hard-wired

hardwood

hard-working

hardy

hare

Hare Krishna

hare-brained

hare-lip

harem

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