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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

cowardly en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkaʊədli/ (UK)
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.

Meanings

  1. Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful.
    • The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. 1599 (date written), 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]:
    • 1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
cowardlier Degree=Cmp lexicographic
cowardliest Degree=Sup lexicographic
most cowardly Degree=Sup lexicographic
more cowardly Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Antonyms

brave

Deriveds

cowardliness · cowardly lion · cowardlily · uncowardly

Relateds

shy · coward · afraid · cowardice

Synonyms

cringey · boneless · white-livered · dastardly · yellow · base · caitiff · sissy · nithing · gutless · liver-hearted · fraidy · hen-hearted · yellow-bellied · timid · backboneless · chicken-livered · punk · pigeon-livered · cowardish · cowardy · candy-assed · weak-kneed · pusillanimous · wimpish · heartless · nidering · niddering · cravenhearted · dough-faced · nutless · courageless · white-hearted · unhearty · miching · cowardly · liver-faced · milk-livered · cowish · niding · bitch-ass · recrayed · dastard · mouse-hearted · timorous · low-hearted · craven · poltroonish · fearful · chickenshit · gizzardless · craven · fainthearted · cowhearted · kiasi · chicken · poor-spirited · invalorous · soft · mousy · chicken-hearted · retromingent · spineless · ratlike · lily-livered · dickless · invertebrate · rabbit-hearted · pussylike · nerveless · milky

Translations (107)

it pusillanime (showing cowardice) · ba ҡурҡаҡ (showing cowardice) · it vigliacco (showing cowardice) · pl tchórzliwy (showing cowardice) · grc δειλός (showing cowardice) · pdt enjstlich (showing cowardice) · ang earg (showing cowardice) · uk боягу́зливий (showing cowardice) · arz جبان (showing cowardice) · az qorxaq (showing cowardice) · cmn 膽怯 /胆怯 (showing cowardice) · sa भीरु (showing cowardice) · eo malkuraĝa (showing cowardice) · mn аймхай (showing cowardice) · pt cobarde (showing cowardice) · fr bas (showing cowardice) · ro mișel (showing cowardice) · cmn 懦弱 (showing cowardice) · pa کائر (showing cowardice) · gu બીકણ (showing cowardice) · izh arka (showing cowardice) · gv faitagh (showing cowardice) · es cobarde (showing cowardice) · pra 𑀓𑀸𑀬𑀭 (showing cowardice) · fi raukkamainen (showing cowardice) · da fej (showing cowardice) · inc-opa ਕਾਇਰੁ (showing cowardice) · nn feig (showing cowardice) · uz yuraksiz (showing cowardice) · gu કાયર (showing cowardice) · fa ترسو (showing cowardice) · alt коркунчаак (showing cowardice) · th ขลาด (showing cowardice) · sa कापुरुष (showing cowardice) · ro fricos (showing cowardice) · fr veule (showing cowardice) · fi pelkurimainen (showing cowardice) · sl strahopeten (showing cowardice) · hi कायर (showing cowardice) · pi asūra (showing cowardice) · eo kovarda (showing cowardice) · fr lâche (showing cowardice) · cmn 懦怯 (showing cowardice) · tt куркак (showing cowardice) · ka მშიშარა (showing cowardice) · ca covard (showing cowardice) · it vile (showing cowardice) · eu koldar (showing cowardice) · th ปอดแหก (showing cowardice) · ky коркок (showing cowardice) · mk плашлив (showing cowardice) · kk қорқақ (showing cowardice) · ota طبانسز (showing cowardice) · uk боязки́й (showing cowardice) · ar جَبَان (showing cowardice) · eo poltrona (showing cowardice) · sh ку̏кавички (showing cowardice) · uz qoʻrqoq (showing cowardice) · bg мекуша́в (showing cowardice) · ro laș (showing cowardice) · mi hūngoingoi (showing cowardice) · be баязлі́вы (showing cowardice) · ru трусли́вый (showing cowardice) · pa ਕਾਇਰ (showing cowardice) · sv feg (showing cowardice) · sk zbabelý (showing cowardice) · ko 겁이 많다 (showing cowardice) · ja 臆病な (showing cowardice) · ja へたれ (showing cowardice) · mn хулчгар (showing cowardice) · nl laf (showing cowardice) · th ป๊อด (showing cowardice) · ga meata (showing cowardice) · eo senkuraĝa (showing cowardice) · ka მხდალი (showing cowardice) · hi डरपोक (showing cowardice) · ky коркунчаак (showing cowardice) · mk кукавички (showing cowardice) · sa कातर (showing cowardice) · mi hauwarea (showing cowardice) · cs zbabělý (showing cowardice) · pi bhīru (showing cowardice) · ota یوركسز (showing cowardice) · tr korkak (showing cowardice) · bg страхли́в (showing cowardice) · km កំសាក (showing cowardice) · vo dredöfik (showing cowardice) · is huglaus (showing cowardice) · de feige (showing cowardice) · th ขี้ขลาด (showing cowardice) · nrf lâche (showing cowardice) · cmn 膽小 /胆小 (showing cowardice) · ru малоду́шный (showing cowardice) · el δειλός (showing cowardice) · it codardo (showing cowardice) · ug قورقۇنچاق (showing cowardice) · enm coward (showing cowardice) · yi פּחדניש (showing cowardice) · hy վախկոտ (showing cowardice) · pi bhīruka (showing cowardice) · hu gyáva (showing cowardice) · pt covarde (showing cowardice) · sh kȕkavički (showing cowardice) · uk боязли́вий (showing cowardice) · la īgnāvus (showing cowardice) · nb feig (showing cowardice) · grc ἄσπλαγχνος (showing cowardice)

cowardly en · ADV

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkaʊədli/ (UK)
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.

Meanings

  1. (archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily.
    • […] men who cowardly and hypocritically subscribe orthodox creeds, whilst they teach a different kind of doctrine! 1828, John Paul, A Refutation of Arianism, page 20:
    • We will not ſteale vpon him cowardly, But giue him warning and more warriours. c. 1587–1588 (date written), [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:
    • I love to follow them, but not so cowardly, as my life remaine thereby in subjection. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 48:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
most cowardly Degree=Sup lexicographic
more cowardly Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Translations (29)

ca covardament (in the manner of a coward) · vo hidredöfaniko (in the manner of a coward) · hi कायरतापूर्ण (in the manner of a coward) · da krysteragtig (in the manner of a coward) · it vigliaccamente (in the manner of a coward) · nn feig (in the manner of a coward) · pt covardemente (in the manner of a coward) · vo dredöfaniko (in the manner of a coward) · vo dredöfo (in the manner of a coward) · nrf lâchement (in the manner of a coward) · fi raukkamaisesti (in the manner of a coward) · fr lâchement (in the manner of a coward) · hu gyáván (in the manner of a coward) · nb feig (in the manner of a coward) · ja へたれ (in the manner of a coward) · fi pelkurimaisesti (in the manner of a coward) · de feige (in the manner of a coward) · it pusillanimamente (in the manner of a coward) · pt cobardemente (in the manner of a coward) · vo dredöfiko (in the manner of a coward) · ru малоду́шно (in the manner of a coward) · es cobardemente (in the manner of a coward) · ro laș (in the manner of a coward) · da fej (in the manner of a coward) · da kujonagtig (in the manner of a coward) · enm cowardly (in the manner of a coward) · vo jidredöfaniko (in the manner of a coward) · ru трусли́во (in the manner of a coward) · it vilmente (in the manner of a coward)