COWARD

coward

(noun) a person who shows fear or timidity

Coward, Noel Coward, Sir Noel Pierce Coward

(noun) English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Proper noun

Coward

A surname.

Etymology

Noun

coward (plural cowards)

A person who lacks courage.

Synonyms

• chicken

• scaredy pants

• yellowbelly

• See also coward

Adjective

coward (comparative more coward, superlative most coward)

Cowardly.

(heraldry, of a lion) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs.

Verb

coward (third-person singular simple present cowards, present participle cowarding, simple past and past participle cowarded)

(transitive, obsolete) To intimidate.

Source: Wiktionary


Cow"ard (kou"rd), a. Etym: [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.]

1. (Her.)

Definition: Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs;

– said of a lion.

2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly. Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.

3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity. He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak. Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.

Cow"ard, n.

Definition: A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon. A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.

Syn.

– Craven; poltroon; dastard.

Cow"ard, v. t.

Definition: To make timoroys; to frighten. [Obs.] That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; “a critical reading”; “a critical dissertation”; “a critical analysis of Melville’s writings”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

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