| 释义 |
cow·ard
I. \ˈkau̇](ə)rd, ]əd\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English coward, cuard, from Old French coart, cuart, adj & noun, from coe, coue tail (from Latin cauda) + -art -ard; from the idea of a coward retreating to the tail end of an army, or from the idea of a frightened animal with its tail between its legs
: one who shows ignoble fear : a basely timid, easily frightened, and easily daunted person
< a coward, irresolute, impulsive in any crisis — Walter de la Mare >
< is an arrant coward and shows the white feather at the slightest display of pluck in his antagonist — John Burroughs >
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English coward, cuard, from Old French coart, cuart, adjective & noun
1.
a. : having or arising from a coward's nature : timid, fainthearted, cowardly
< that craven coward knight — Edmund Spenser >
< neither altogether coward nor brave — John Reed >
b. : of or characteristic of a coward or cowardice
< coward cries >
< coward deceit >
2. heraldry : borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs
< a lion coward >
Synonyms: see cowardly
III. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English cowarden, from coward (I)
obsolete : to make timorous : frighten : cause to show cowardice |