cowardize

English edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle English cowardise; see cowardice.

Noun edit

cowardize (uncountable)

Obsolete spelling of cowardice
- c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
  The ſecond property of your excellent ſherris, is the vvarming of the blood, vvhich before (cold & ſetled) left the lyuer vvhite & pale, vvhich is the badge of puſilanimitie and covvardize: but the ſherris vvarmes it, and makes it courſe from the invvards to the partes extreames, […]

Etymology 2 edit

From coward +‎ -ize.

Verb edit

cowardize (third-person singular simple present cowardizes, present participle cowardizing, simple past and past participle cowardized)

(transitive) To render (someone or something) cowardly, to cause to become a coward.