| 释义 |
▪ I. cowardly, a.|ˈkaʊədlɪ|
[f. coward n. + -ly1.]
1. Having the character or spirit of a coward; wanting in courage; pusillanimous, timorous.
1551Robinson tr. More's Utop. 1. (Arb.) 39 Souldiours be not the cowardleste theves. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 251 A..feareful, cowardly, and dastardly loute. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, iv. vii. 6 The Cowardly Rascalls that ranne from the battaile. 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 636 Their weak and Cowardly Hearts. 1861Dickens Gt. Expect. vi, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right.
2. Characteristic of or befitting a coward; proceeding from fear or a spirit of cowardice.
1601Shakes. Jul. C. v. i. 104, I do finde it Cowardly..For feare of what might fall, so to preuent The time of life. a1709South (J.), A cowardly silence in Christ's cause. 1796Coleridge Ode Departing Year viii, At cowardly distance..secure thou hast stood. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 33 The affront was not only brutal, but cowardly.
▪ II. ˈcowardly, adv.
[f. coward a. + -ly2. It occurs much earlier than prec.]
Like a coward; with cowardice or base avoidance of danger.
c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 1631, I fayn wolde Wyt þe wytte of þe wryt, þat on þe wowe clyues. For alle calde clerkes han cowwardely fayled. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 379 He..cowerdly consentid to his foly. a1450Le Morte Arth. 379 Yit had I levir do what I may Than here to dye thus cowerdelye. 1588A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 49 Thay..quha dois falslie deny, or cowartlie impugne this chair of peter. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. xv. 56, I..do now not basely dye, Not Cowardly put off my Helmet. 1699Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 529 Captain Hodgson's man was cowardly run through the back. a1703Burkitt On N.T. Matt. xxviii. 10 Those apostate apostles, that cowardly left me in my danger. 1890Besant Demoniac vi. 68 To whom you surrender basely and cowardly without a blow. |