cowardly
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
cowardly (comparative cowardlier or more cowardly, superlative cowardliest or most cowardly)
- Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:cowardly
- 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]:
- The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle.
- 1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol
- The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face.
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
showing cowardice
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Adverb[edit]
cowardly (comparative more cowardly, superlative most cowardly)
- (archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily.
- c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene v:
- We will not ſteale vpon him cowardly,
But giue him warning and more warriours.
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 48:
- I love to follow them, but not so cowardly, as my life remaine thereby in subjection.
- 1828, John Paul, A Refutation of Arianism[1], page 20:
- […] men who cowardly and hypocritically subscribe orthodox creeds, whilst they teach a different kind of doctrine!
Translations[edit]
in the manner of a coward
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Middle English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From coward + -ly (“adverbial suffix”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Adverb[edit]
cowardly
- In a cowardly or knavish way; cowardlily.
Descendants[edit]
- English: cowardie (obsolete)
References[edit]
- “cǒuardlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms suffixed with -ly (adjectival)
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations
- English adverbs
- English terms with archaic senses
- en:Personality
- en:Fear
- Middle English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial)
- Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English adverbs
- enm:Fear