hardy

¹

[ hahr-dee ]

adjective

, har·di·er, har·di·est.

1. capable of enduring fatigue, hardship, exposure, etc.; sturdy; strong:

   hardy explorers of northern Canada.

   Synonyms: sound, stout, hale, robust, vigorous

   Antonyms: weak

2. (of plants) able to withstand the cold of winter in the open air.
3. requiring great physical courage, vigor, or endurance:

   the hardiest sports.

4. bold or daring; courageous:

   hardy soldiers.

   Synonyms: brave, resolute, intrepid

   Antonyms: timid

5. unduly bold; presumptuous; foolhardy.

hardy

²

[ hahr-dee ]

noun

, plural har·dies.

1. a chisel or fuller with a square shank for insertion into a square hole hardy hole in a blacksmith's anvil.

Hardy

³

[ hahr-dee ]

noun

1. Godfrey Harold, 1877–1947, English mathematician.
2. Oliver, 1892–1957, U.S. motion-picture comedian.
3. Thomas, 1840–1928, English novelist and poet.

hardy

¹

/ ˈhɑːdɪ /

adjective

1. having or demanding a tough constitution; robust
2. bold; courageous
3. foolhardy; rash
4. (of plants) able to live out of doors throughout the winter

hardy

²

/ ˈhɑːdɪ /

noun

1. any blacksmith's tool made with a square shank so that it can be lodged in a square hole in an anvil

Hardy

³

/ ˈhɑːdɪ /

noun

1. Oliver. See Laurel and Hardy
2. HardyThomas18401928MBritishWRITING: novelistWRITING: poet Thomas. 1840–1928, British novelist and poet. Most of his novels are set in his native Dorset (part of his fictional Wessex) and include Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Return of the Native (1878), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891), and Jude the Obscure (1895), after which his work consisted chiefly of verse
3. HardySir Thomas Masterman17691839MBritishMILITARY: admiral Sir Thomas Masterman. 1769–1839, British naval officer, flag captain under Nelson (1799–1805): 1st Sea Lord (1830)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hardy¹

1175–1225; Middle English hardi < Old French, past participle of *hardir to harden, make brave < Germanic; compare Gothic -hardjan, Old High German hartjan to harden

Origin of hardy²

First recorded in 1865–70; hard + -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of hardy¹

C13: from Old French hardi bold, past participle of hardir to become bold, of Germanic origin; compare Old English hierdan to harden ¹, Old Norse hertha, Old High German herten

Origin of hardy²

C19: probably from hard

Example Sentences

They are hardy — any flower that grows next to a freeway ain’t no shrinking violet.

From Los Angeles Times

Piñon trees — the hardy pine of New Mexico — line the foothills.

From Los Angeles Times

Even the hardy Seabrook has gone for a nap in her car.

From BBC

Indeed, capybaras are hardly endangered, and the creatures, which form part of the larger caviomorph group, are hardy survivors.

From Salon

At first glance, the microscopic creatures known as tardigrades don't appear that hardy.

From Salon