| Coward | a. [ 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.) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly. [ 1913 Webster ] Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity. [ 1913 Webster ] He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Cowardice | n. [ F. couardise, fr. couard. See Coward. ] Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity; pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit. [ 1913 Webster ] The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] Moderation was despised as cowardice. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Cowardly | a. 1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless. [ 1913 Webster ] The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke. Syn. -- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered. [ 1913 Webster ] |
