from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hardy \Har"dy\ (h[aum]r"d[y^]), a. [Compar. {Hardier}
(-d[i^]*[~e]r); superl. {Hardiest}.] [F. hardi, p. p. fr. OF.
hardir to make bold; of German origin, cf. OHG. hertan to
harden, G. h[aum]rten. See {Hard}, a.]
1. Bold; brave; stout; daring; resolute; intrepid.
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Hap helpeth hardy man alway. --Chaucer.
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2. Confident; full of assurance; in a bad sense, morally
hardened; shameless.
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3. Strong; firm; compact.
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[A] blast may shake in pieces his hardy fabric.
--South.
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4. Inured to fatigue or hardships; strong; capable of
endurance; as, a hardy veteran; a hardy mariner.
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5. Able to withstand the cold of winter.
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Note: Plants which are hardy in Virginia may perish in New
England. Half-hardy plants are those which are able to
withstand mild winters or moderate frosts.
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