cowardly
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
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 termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
showing cowardice
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AdverbEdit
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, John Florio, transl., 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!
TranslationsEdit
in the manner of a coward
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Middle EnglishEdit
Alternative formsEdit
EtymologyEdit
From coward + -ly (“adverbial suffix”).
PronunciationEdit
AdverbEdit
cowardly
- In a cowardly or knavish way; cowardlily.
DescendantsEdit
- English: cowardie (obsolete)
ReferencesEdit
- “cǒuardlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.