Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Heroism |
HeroismNoun1. The qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle); "he showed great heroism in battle"; "he received a medal for valor". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "heroism" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1780. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
19th Century Satire | A transferable ticket to the Haul of Fame. Once held by Hobson and Dewey, now carried by Mother Eddy and Brother Dowie. Source: Foolish Dictionary, 1904. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
- Here I come to save the day!
- — Mighty Mouse (1940)
A hero is a man or woman (then often called a heroine), traditionally the protagonist of a story, legend or saga, commonly possessed of powers far beyond that of a standard human, which enable him or her to perform some truly extraordinary, beneficial deed (an "heroic deed") for which he or she is famous. These powers are sometimes not only of the body but also of the mind. Heroes are typically opposed by villains.
A person normally becomes a hero by performing an extraordinary and praiseworthy deed. Traditional deeds are slaying of monsters and saving people from certain death. A hero normally fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noble in the originating culture. However, in literature, particularly in tragedy, the hero may also have serious flaws which lead to his downfall, e.g. Hamlet.
Sometimes a real person might achieve enough status to become a hero in people's minds. This is usually complemented by a rapid growth of myths around the person in question, often attributing him or her with powers beyond those of ordinary mortals.
Some social commentators prescribe the need for heroes in times of social upheaval or national self-doubt, seeing a requirement for virtuous role-models, especially for the young. Such myth-making may have worked better in the past: current trends may confuse heroes and their hero-worship with the cult of mere celebrity.
Well-known heroes approach the gods in status in some cultures. The word hero comes from Ancient Greek, where it describes a culture hero who figures in mythology. The Greek heroes were often the mythological characters who were the eponymous founders of Greek cities, states, and territories. These mythological heroes were not always role models or possessed of heroic virtue; many were demigods, the offspring of mortals and the gods. The age when heroes of this sort were active, and where the stories of Greek mythology were set, is frequently known as the "heroic age;" the heroic age ends shortly after the Trojan War is over and the legendary combatants have returned to home or exile.
List of famous heroes
A book of recent fame, dealing with the telling of heroic stories, is called The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
- Hercules, ancient Roman Empire
- King Arthur, medieval England
- Hua Mulan and Lord Guan, China
- Beowulf, Iron Age Scandinavia
- Stenka Razin, Russian folk hero
- Joan of Arc, France
- The twelve paladins of Charlemagne were important heroes whose stories were important in the development of courtly love and chivalric romance.
- Laura Secord, Canada
See also: superhero, culture hero
- Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy
- — F. Scott Fitzgerald
Hero is also a Greek name, applying to several characters in mythology and fiction.
In William Shakespeares play Much Ado About Nothing Hero is a female character.
Hero is a Chinese film. See Hero (film).
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Hero."
Synonyms: HeroismSynonyms: gallantry (n), valiance (n), valiancy (n), valor (n), valorousness (n), valour (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Courage | Prowess, heroism, chivalry. |
Phrase: one's blood being up; courage sans peur;fortes fortuna adjuvat; "have I not in my time heard lions roar "; " I dare do all that may become a man "; male vincetis sed vincite; omne solum forti patria; " self-trust is the essence of heroism "; stimulos dedit oemula virtus; " strong and great, a hero "; teloque animus proestantior omni; "there, is always safety in valor"; virtus ariete fortier. | |
Disinterestedness | Noun: disinterestedness; Adjective: generosity; liberality, liberalism; altruism; benevolence; elevation, loftiness of purpose, exaltation, magnanimity; chivalry, chivalrous spirit; heroism, sublimity. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Heroism |
| English words defined with "heroism": Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Cross ♦ gallantry ♦ Heroicness ♦ life ♦ Navy Cross ♦ unlaureled, unlaurelled ♦ valiance, valiancy, valor, valorousness, valour. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "heroism": Deans ♦ Maid of Saragossa ♦ Unexampled ♦ Want. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "heroism": Heroicness. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Heroism" is also a word in the following language with the English translation in parentheses. Swedish (heroism). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Movie/TV Titles | The Frontier Twins' Heroism (1913) A Surgeon's Heroism (1912) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
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Theater & Movies | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | John L. Levitow examines the cockpit of the C-17 named for him, the Spirit of John L. Levitow, Jan. 23, 1998 in Long Beach, Calif. Levitow, one of only 16 airmen awarded the Medal of Honor for exceptional heroism during wartime died Nov. 8 at his home in. |  | Receives the Medal of Honor from President Calvin Coolidge, in ceremonies at the White House, Washington, D.C., on 8 March 1924. Captain Adolphus Andrews, Presidential Naval Aide, is at left. Breault was awarded the Medal of Honor for "heroism and devotion to duty" during the sinking of USS O-5 (SS-66) on 28 October 1923. Credit: NAVY. |
 | Poster featuring Mess Attendant Harmon and USS Harmon (DE-678), which was named in his honor. He was killed in action on board USS San Francisco (CA-38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. For his heroism in that action, Mess Attendant Harmon was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The poster also features the text of his award citation and a representation of the Navy Cross medal. Credit: NAVY. |  | Meets with Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, in the Offices of the Chief of Naval Operations, circa summer 1945, following Admiral Hewitt's return to the United States from London and Chaplain O'Callahan's promotion to the rank of Commander. O'Callahan was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on board USS Franklin (CV-13), off Japan on 19 March 1945. Credit: NAVY. |
 | Reverse of a "Tiffany Cross" pattern Medal of Honor awarded to Lieutenant Edouard V.M. Izak for heroism following the sinking of USS President Lincoln on 31 May 1918. Credit: NAVY. |  | Oil on canvas, 28" x 26", by McClelland Barclay, USNR (1891-1943). Painting signed and dated by the artist, 1942. It includes a depiction of the Medal of Honor, which was posthumously awarded to Rear Admiral Scott for "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity" during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. Credit: NAVY. |
 | Halftone reproduction of a 1942 photograph, published in "Medal of Honor, 1861-1945, The Navy", page 257. Rear Admiral Scott was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous intrepidity" during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. Credit: NAVY. |  | Copied from "Deeds of Valor", Volume II, page 47, published by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the loss of USS Cincinnati while in action with Confederate batteries at Vicksburg, Mississippi, 27 May 1863. Credit: NAVY. |
 | The heroism of yesterday is the commonplace of today. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Manila, the Philippine Islands. For extraordinary heroism during attacks on Jap bridgeheads at Vigan, in Northern Luzon, Lieutenant Jack Dale of the U.S. Army Air Corps received a Distinguished Service Cross from General MacArthur (right) before Japanese. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Duc de La Rochefoucauld | The hunger for applause is the source of all conscious literature and heroism. |
Napoleon Bonaparte | True heroism consists in being superior to the ills of life, in whatever shape they may challenge us to combat. |
Ralph Waldo Emerson | Self-trust is the essence of heroism. |
| Heroism feels and never reasons, and therefore is always right. | |
Robert Green Ingersoll | When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death -- that is heroism. |
St. Pierre | Every trait of beauty may be referred to some virtue, as to innocence, candor, generosity, modesty, or heroism. |
Thomas Carlyle | Heroism is the divine relation which, in all times, unites a great man to other men. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | There the lion is placed, the involuntary symbol of the supreme heroism of the Imperial Guard |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Travel | Philippines | All offices close during the following public holidays: January 1, New Year's Day; April 9, Bataan & Corregidor Day and Heroism Day; Easter Holidays, which include Maundy Thursday and Good Friday; May 1, Labor Day; June 12, Independence Day; August 27, National Heroes Day; November 1, All Saints' Day; November 30, Bonifacio Day; December 25, Christmas Day; and December 30, Rizal Day. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
James Madison | 1809-1817 | A second frigate has indeed fallen into the hands of the enemy, but the loss is hidden in the blaze of heroism with which she was defended. |
Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | One who sits among you here tonight epitomized that heroism at the end of the longest imprisonment ever inflicted on men of our armed forces. |
Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | I want to recognize Richard and applaud both his public service and his extraordinary heroism. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Heroism" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Heroism" is used about 121 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 121 | 29,211 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
heroism | 32 |
heroism quote | 10 |
heroism mystery | 9 |
by crane heroism mystery stephen | 3 |
crane heroism mystery stephen | 3 |
gilgamesh heroism in | 2 |
award heroism | 2 |
heroism poem | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "heroism"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | heroizëm. (various references) | |
Arabic | البطولة, شجاعة (assurance, brace, bravery, brawler, courage, fortitude, gut, guts, hardiness, manhood, nerve, pluck, prowess, sand, spirit, spunk, stoutness, valor, valour), بطولة (championship, gallantry, prowess). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | героизъм (intrepidity), доблест (valor, valour). (various references) | |
Chinese | 英雄主义. (various references) | |
Czech | hrdinství (prowess), heroismus. (various references) | |
Dutch | heldhaftigheid, heldenmoed. (various references) | |
Esperanto | heroeco. (various references) | |
Farsi | قهرمانی , گردی (Rondure, Round), شجاعت (Bravery, Courage, Gallantry, Manhood, Pluck, Valor). (various references) | |
Finnish | urhokkuus, sankaruus, sankarillisuus. (various references) | |
French | héroïsme. (various references) | |
German | heldentum, heroismus. (various references) | |
Greek | ηρωϊσμόσ, ηρωϊσμός. (various references) | |
Hebrew | עוז (forcel, fortress, glory, main, might, power, strength, valour, vehemence, vigour), אמץ לב (bravery, courage, pluck, spunk, valour), "רואיות. (various references) | |
Hungarian | hõsiesség (doughtiness), vitézség (gallantry, prowess, valiancy, valor, valour), bátorság (audaciousness, audacity, boldness, bravado, bravery, courage, dutch courage, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, high spirits, manhood, nerve, pluck, prowess, spunk, valor, valour). (various references) | |
Indonesian | kepahlawanan. (various references) | |
Italian | eroismo. (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 勇敢 (bravery, gallantry). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | ぎれつ, ぎゆう (loyalty and courage), ぎき (chivalry, flag of righteousness), 'ロイズ , ぶきょう (chivalry, gallantry, the teachings of Bushido), に"きょう (chivalrous spirit, chivalry, generosity), ゆうそう (brave, bravery, gallant, heroic, mailing, majestic, quiet window, soul-stirring), ゆうか" (bravery, distress, evening paper, gallantry, leisured, quiet and secluded, sorrow, worry), ゆう (actor, bravery, courage, evening, gentleness, gift, help, possession, superiority, to braid, to do up, to say), えいゆうしゅぎ. (various references) | |
Korean | 영웅주의. (various references) | |
Manx | feniaghtys 1 (championship, chivalry), feniaghtys (championship, chivalry, Fenianism). (various references) | |
Norwegian | heltemot. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | eroismhay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | herosmo. (various references) | |
Romanian | eroism (courage). (various references) | |
Russian | героизм. (various references) | |
Scottish | ceatharnas. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | junaštvo (bravery, gallantry, prowess, valor, valour). (various references) | |
Spanish | heroísmo (gallantry). (various references) | |
Swedish | hjältemod (gallantry), heroism. (various references) | |
Turkish | kahramanlık (achievements, bravery, deed, exploit, feat, gallantry, prowess, valor, valour). (various references) | |
Turkmen | gahrymanзylyk. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | героїзм, доблесть (prowess, valor, valour). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | thái độ anh hùng chủ nghĩa anh hùng, cử chỉ anh hùng, đức tính anh hùng. (various references) | |
Welsh | gwroniaeth, arwriaeth. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "heroism": heroisms. (additional references) | |
| |
"Heroism" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Eriosoma, hedoism, heresam, herioism, Heronim, Heyoom, Hirosi. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "heroism" (pronounced he"rōi'zum) |
| 5 | -ō i' z u m | egoism. |
| 4 | -i' z u m | absenteeism, absolutism, abolitionism, activism, adventurism, agrarianism, alcoholism, altruism, amateurism, anachronism, aneurism, animism, antagonism, aphorism, astigmatism, atavism, atheism, authoritarianism, autism, baptism, barbarism, bilingualism, bolshevism, boosterism, botulism, mechanism, mercantilism, mesmerism, metabolism, methodism, microorganism, militarism, minimalism, modernism, monasticism, monetarism, monism, monotheism, moralism, multiculturalism, multilateralism, mutualism, mysticism, narcissism, nationalism, nativism, naturalism, negativism, nepotism, neutralism, nihilism, obstructionism, opportunism, optimism, organism, ostracism, overoptimism, pacifism, paganism, parallelism, parkinsonism, parochialism, pastoralism, paternalism, patriotism, perfectionism, pessimism, pharisaism, pietism, plagiarism, pluralism, polymorphism, polytheism, populism, positivism, pragmatism, professionalism, protectionism, provincialism, puritanism, racialism, racism, radicalism, realism, cannibalism, capitalism, catechism, centralism, chauvinism, classicism, collectivism, colonialism, commercialism, communism, conservatism, consumerism, corporatism, counterterrorism, creationism, criticism, cronyism, cubism, cynicism, dandyism, defeatism, deism, despotism, determinism, diamagnetism, diastrophism, dimorphism, dogmatism, Druidism, dualism, dwarfism, dynamism, egalitarianism, egotism, electromagnetism, elitism, embolism, emotionalism, empiricism, entrepreneurialism, environmentalism, ergotism, eroticism, escapism, ethnocentrism, euphemism, evangelism, expansionism, expressionism, extremism, factionalism, fanaticism, fascism, fatalism, favoritism, federalism, feminism, ferromagnetism, fetishism, feudalism, formalism, fundamentalism, futurism, geotropism, gnosticism, gradualism, hedonism, helotism, hooliganism, humanism, hypnotism, idealism, illusionism, imperialism, impressionism, incrementalism, individualism, intellectualism, internationalism, interventionism, Irredentism, isolationism, isomorphism, jingoism, journalism, leftism, legalism, lesbianism, liberalism, lyricism, magnetism, mannerism, masochism, materialism, recidivism, relativism, republicanism, revisionism, rheumatism, romanticism, sadism, satanism, sectarianism, secularism, sensationalism, separatism, sexism, skepticism, socialism, statism, stoicism, supernaturalism, surrealism, symbolism, synergism, territorialism, terrorism, theism, tokenism, totalitarianism, tourism, truism, unionism, vandalism, vegetarianism, vigilantism, voluntarism, volunteerism, voyeurism. |
| 3 | -z u m | bosom, microcosm, neoplasm, orgasm, phantasm, prism, careerism, chasm, cytoplasm, enthusiasm, iconoclasm, ism, sarcasm, schism, spasm. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "e-h-i-m-o-r-s" | |
-1 letter: homers, homier, hosier, isomer, moires, mosher, rimose. | |
-2 letters: emirs, heirs, herms, heros, hires, hoers, hoise, homer, homes, horse, mires, miser, moire, mores, morse, omers, osier, rimes, shier, shire, shoer, shore. | |
-3 letters: emir, eros, heir, hems, herm, hero, hers, hies, hire, hoer, hoes, home, hose, ires, mesh, mhos, mire, mirs, mise, miso, more, mors. | |
| Words containing the letters "e-h-i-m-o-r-s" | |
+1 letter: bioherms, heirdoms, heroisms, isotherm, rhizomes. | |
+2 letters: chemisorb, chromides, chromites, chromizes, harmonies, harmonise, heirlooms, heroinism, homegirls, horsemint, isotherms, morphines, premonish, thermions, trichomes. | |
+3 letters: admonisher, chemisorbs, cherimoyas, demolisher, fishmonger, harmonised, harmonises, harmonizes, heroinisms, hithermost, horsemints, hypodermis, impoverish, isothermal, mentorship, monarchies, moonshiner, morphemics, nomarchies, rhodamines, rhytidomes, sheriffdom, smothering, thermistor, thimerosal. | |
+4 letters: admonishers, atmospheric, behaviorism, bichromates, chemisorbed, chloramines, choirmaster, chrysomelid, comradeship, coppersmith, demolishers, dichromates, echinoderms, emperorship, fisherwoman, fisherwomen, fishmongers, foremanship, harmonizers, heliometers, hematocrits, hemipterous, hemorrhoids, hemosiderin, heteroecism, hippodromes, homospories, hypodermics, hypsometric, inharmonies, marchioness, mentorships, mesomorphic, mesonephric, mesonephroi, mesospheric, mesotrophic, microfiches, microinches, microphages, microphones, microsphere, mimeographs, misanthrope, misbehavior, moonshiners, nourishment, pleochroism, prehominids, premonished, premonishes, promethiums, resmoothing, rhizotomies, rhomboideus, seismograph, semaphoring, sheriffdoms, somewhither, spermophile, thermionics, thermistors, thermopiles, thermotaxis, thimerosals, xerophytism. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Quotations: Familiar 8. Quotations: Fiction | 9. Quotations: Non-fiction 10. Quotations: Speeches 11. Usage Frequency 12. Expressions: Internet | 13. Translations: Modern 14. Derivations 15. Rhymes 16. Anagrams | 17. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
