COWED

Etymology

• Probable origins are Scandinavian, cf. Danish kue, to subdue.

Adjective

cowed (comparative more cowed, superlative most cowed)

Frightened into submission.

Synonyms

• intimidated

Verb

cowed

simple past tense and past participle of cow

Source: Wiktionary


COW

Cow (kou), n. Etym: [See Cowl a hood.]

Definition: A chimney cap; a cowl

Cow, n.; pl. Cows (kouz); old pl. Kine (k. Etym: [OE. cu, cou, AS. c; akin to D. koe, G. kuh, OHG. kuo, Icel. k, Dan. & Sw. ko, L. bos ox, cow, Gr. g. sq. root223. Cf. Beef, Bovine, Bucolic, Butter, Nylghau.]

1. The mature female of bovine animals.

2. The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.

Cow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud);; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. kuga, Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue. Cf. Cuff, v. t.]

Definition: To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to overawe. To vanquish a people already cowed. Shak. THe French king was cowed. J. R. Green.

Cow, n. Etym: [Prob. from same root as cow, v.t.] (Mining)

Definition: A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock. Knight.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

3 May 2025

DESIRABLE

(adjective) worth having or seeking or achieving; “a desirable job”; “computer with many desirable features”; “a desirable outcome”


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

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