hardiness
/ˈhɑːdinəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrdinəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhärdēnə̇s ˈhȧd-, -din-/ (ame, mw)
hardiness — noun
1. the quality of staying strong and well in cold, hunger, illness, or other harsh
the quality of staying strong and well in cold, hunger, illness, or other harsh conditions that would make most people give up.
Sade credits her grandmother's hardiness for getting the family through the long winter.
the hardiness of [person] for [enduring something]
The hardiness of the fishing crew amazed the young reporter from Lagos.
the hardiness of [group]
Years of mountain training built up the climbers' hardiness against thin air.
Imran was admired in the village for his quiet hardiness during the drought.
Doctors were surprised by the patient's hardiness after such a serious operation.
- toughness
everyday; covers both body and mind, slightly less formal
- endurance
focus on lasting a long time under strain
- resilience
ability to recover after setbacks, not just to endure them
- robustness
more clinical; often of health or systems
文法句型
the hardiness of [person/group]
hardiness in [adverse condition]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, a group, or a body — not an emotion or idea. Distinguish from sense 3: this is about lasting through hardship, not about being bold or taking risks.
常見錯誤
2. how well a plant can survive outdoors through cold winters or other bad weather
how well a plant can survive outdoors through cold winters or other bad weather without being moved inside or covered.
Ziad chose lavender for the border because of its hardiness in dry, frosty winters.
hardiness in [weather condition]
The seed packet listed the hardiness of each variety on the back.
Olive trees lack the hardiness needed for gardens in northern Sweden.
Christopher selects roses for their hardiness as well as their colour.
Gardeners often test the hardiness of new tomato varieties over several seasons.
- cold tolerance
technical horticultural term; narrower
- winter resistance
common in gardening catalogues
- tenderness
of plants: easily damaged by cold
文法句型
the hardiness of [plant]
winter hardiness
用法筆記
Sense restricted to plants. Often modified by 'winter' or 'cold'. Gardening catalogues and seed packets use this term almost exclusively in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. the readiness to face danger or to do something risky that other people would no
the readiness to face danger or to do something risky that other people would not dare attempt — for example, sailing alone across an ocean, or challenging a powerful person in public.
Nadia had the hardiness to question the minister during the town hall meeting.
the hardiness to [do bold action]
Few sailors had the hardiness to cross the Atlantic in such a small boat.
the hardiness to [face danger]
Ramón admired the hardiness of the protesters who stood in front of the tanks.
It took real hardiness for Élise to demand a pay rise from the director.
The young officer's hardiness in the face of the enemy surprised his commanders.
文法句型
the hardiness to do [bold action]
the hardiness of [bold act]
用法筆記
Formal and somewhat literary; modern writers more often choose 'boldness', 'audacity', or 'nerve'. Distinguish from sense 1 (toughness): this sense is about the courage to act, not the ability to endure hardship.