bravado
UK[brəˈvɑːdəʊ]US[brəˈvɑːdoʊ]
n
a show of courage or confidence that is intended to impress but may be false or exaggerated.
Morpheme Breakdown
brav
ado
brav
brave
ado
action, fuss
Etymology
the word 'bravado' entered english in the late 16th century from spanish 'bravada', which itself derived from italian 'bravata', a boastful or defiant act. the italian root 'bravo' (brave, bold) traces back to latin 'barbarus', originally meaning foreign or barbarous, a term that evolved to imply wild courage. the '-ado' suffix, entering english via spanish/italian romance language patterns, corresponds to the english '-ade', denoting an action or process. thus, the literal construction 'brave action' evolved semantically to specify a bold display that is often more for show than substance, capturing the performative aspect of false courage.
Analysis
Structure: brav (brave) + ado (action, fuss)
- brav: from italian 'bravo' (brave, bold), ultimately from latin 'barbarus' (foreign, barbarous).
- ado: from old french phrase 'à faire' meaning 'to do', which became 'a do' and then 'ado' in english, signifying action or fuss.
Examples
his bravado disappeared as soon as he saw the size of the opponent.
she acted with a lot of bravado, but inside she was terrified.
the politician's speech was full of empty bravado and unrealistic promises.