sheep-likeadj.adv.
A. adj.
Resembling a sheep or that of a sheep; esp. in an unfavourable sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective]
arghc885
heartlessOE
bloodlessc1225
coward1297
faintc1300
nesha1382
comfortless1387
pusillanimousa1425
faint-heartedc1440
unheartyc1440
cowardous1480
hen-hearteda1529
cowardish1530
feigningc1540
white-livered1546
cowardly1551
faceless1567
pusillanime1570
liver-hearted1571
cowish1579
cowardise1582
coward-like1587
faint-heart1590
courageless1593
sheep-like1596
white-hearted1598
milky1602
milk-livered1608
undaring1611
lily-livereda1616
yarrow1616
flightful1626
chicken-hearted1629
poltroon1649
cow-hearted1660
whey-blooded1675
unbravea1681
nimble-heeled1719
dunghill1775
shrimp-hearted1796
chicken-livered1804
white-feathered1816
pluckless1821
chicken-spirited1822
milk-blooded1822
cowardy1836
yellow1856
yellow-livered1857
putty-hearted1872
uncourageous1878
chicken1883
piker1901
yellow-bellied1907
manso1932
scaredy-cat1933
chickenshit1940
cold-footed1944
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [adjective] > following > sheep-like
sheep-like1596
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > genus Ovus > [adjective] > resembling or of the form of sheep
sheepishc1200
sheepy1532
sheepa1556
sheep-like1596
oviform1877
criocephalous1882
1596 J. Norden Progr. Pietie f. 56v He did foresee hypocrisie Should lurk in godly weed, And wolves in sheeplike tyre to lie.
1655 W. Gouge & T. Gouge Learned Comm. Hebrewes (iii. 6) i. 307 Believers are..subject to wrongs..for their sheep-like and dove-like disposition.
1851 J. Ruskin Sheepfolds 12 Christ's sheep may be guessed at..by their sheep-like behaviour.
1872 W. Besant & J. Rice Ready-money Mortiboy I. xiii. 254 Men possess largely themselves the sheep-like propensity of following where one leads.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. lx. 269 The youth refused to kill himself with the sheeplike docility of so many of his contemporaries.
B. adv.
Meekly, submissively, pusillanimously.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > [adverb]
edmodlichec1175
meeklyc1175
low1340
lowlyc1350
humblyc1374
humilyc1380
meeka1382
poorlyc1385
benignlyc1386
lowlily1415
sheep-like1582
demissly1598
squire-like1608
demissively1622
forma pauperisa1627
under favour1699
daftly1724
abasedly1830
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adverb] > in an abjectly cowardly manner
poorlyc1385
currishly1519
dastardly1552
sheep-like1582
cravenlya1593
cur-like1627
dastard-like1835
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iv. 84 Shal I dy sheepe lyke, not taking kindlye reuengment?
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. I3v See now ye slaues, my children stoops your pride And leads your glories sheep-like to the sword.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.adv.1582