mettle
[noun]
Synonyms: courage, bravery, fortitude, gallantry, life, nerve, pluck, resolution, spirit, valour, vigour

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

met‧tle /ˈmetl/ noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: metal]

1. courage and determination to do something even when it is very difficult
test/show/prove your mettle
a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle

2. on your mettle British English if you are on your mettle, you are ready to try as hard as possible because your abilities are being tested:
We’ll have to be on our mettle from the start.
keep/put somebody on their mettle
This was just his way of keeping me on my mettle.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲