'Mettle' definitions:
Definition of 'mettle'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Mettle'
From: GCIDE
- Mettle \Met"tle\, n. [E. metal, used in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. See Metal.] Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; -- usually in a good sense; as, to test a person's mettle. [1913 Webster]
- A certain critical hour which shall . . . try what mettle his heart is made of. --South. [1913 Webster]
- Gentlemen of brave mettle. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- The winged courser, like a generous horse, Shows most true mettle when you check his course. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- To put one one's mettle, to cause or incite one to use one's best efforts. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'mettle'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- activity,
- animation,
- animus,
- aptitude,
- ardor,
- backbone,
- bent,
- bias,
- bottom,
- brio,
- briskness,
- cast,
- character,
- chutzpah,
- constitution,
- courage,
- dauntlessness,
- diathesis,
- disposition,
- eccentricity,
- elan,
- enthusiasm,
- gameness,
- glow,
- grain,
- grit,
- gusto,
- guts,
- gutsiness,
- guttiness,
- heart,
- heart of oak,
- idiosyncrasy,
- impetuosity,
- impetus,
- inclination,
- individualism,
- intestinal fortitude,
- joie de vivre,
- kidney,
- leaning,
- life,
- liveliness,
- lustiness,
- make,
- makeup,
- mental set,
- mettlesomeness,
- mind,
- mind-set,
- mold,
- moxie,
- nature,
- nerve,
- perkiness,
- pertness,
- pith,
- pluck,
- pluckiness,
- predilection,
- predisposition,
- preference,
- proclivity,
- propensity,
- resolution,
- robustness,
- set,
- slant,
- spirit,
- spiritedness,
- spunk,
- spunkiness,
- stamina,
- stamp,
- stout heart,
- strain,
- streak,
- stripe,
- temper,
- temperament,
- tendency,
- toughness,
- true grit,
- turn,
- turn of mind,
- twist,
- type,
- vivacity,
- warmth,
- warp,
- zest,
- zestfulness