| 释义 |
† ˈcowardness Obs.
[f. coward a. + -ness.]
1. = cowardliness, cowardice.
a1400Gloss. in Rel. Ant. I. 6 Vecordia, cowardnes. c1440Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xlv, It is a grete cowardnesse that men dreden hym so moche. 1563Homilies ii. Matrimony (1859) 503 It is a token of womanish cowardnes. 1603H. Crosse Vertues Commw. (1878) 16 Too much boldnesse, and too much cowardnesse. 1622Peacham Compl. Gentl. (1661) 80 Poetry can turn hatred to love, cowardness into valour.
2. Applied to a ‘company’ of curs.
1486Bk. St. Albans F vj b, A Cowardnes of curris. |