coward Hear it!

coward Definition

cow·ard (ko̵uərd)

noun

a person who lacks courage, esp. one who is shamefully unable to control fear and so shrinks from danger or trouble

Etymology: ME & OFr couard, coward, lit., with tail between the legs < OFr coue, coe, tail < L cauda, tail

adjective

cowardly

Coward Definition

Cow·ard (ko̵uərd)

Coward, Sir Noel (Pierce) 1899-1973; Eng. playwright, actor, and songwriter

coward Synonyms

coward

n.

poltroon, craven, recreant, dastard, cur, wheyface, sneak, faintheart, mollycoddle, milksop, milquetoast, baby, shirker, deserter, bully, blusterer, weakling, panicmonger, scaramouch, alarmist, caitiff, pessimist, malingerer, chicken*, wimp*, sissy*, quitter*, punk*, lily-liver*, scaredy-cat*, chicken-heart*, fraidy-cat*, rabbit*, mouse*, yellow-belly*, jellyfish*, pantywaist*, nervous Nellie*; see also deserter, quitter.

coward Usage Examples

Possessives

  • way: They saw the sorry mess you left behind and thought you took the coward's selfish way.
  • food: Arawn was also the owner of a magical caldron with rejuvenating powers, that would not boil a coward's food.

Converse of object

  • kneel: How can a kneeling coward know what it's like to fall?
  • call: No you won't be called a coward for having them early.
  • make: The sight of Christ's Cross makes the coward brave.
  • take: They saw the sorry mess you left behind and thought you took the coward 's selfish way.
  • brand: I was compelled to proceed or be branded a coward.

Adjective modifier

  • moral: Perhaps, worse are all these religious leaders moral cowards?
  • little: The disgusting little coward was hiding at his girlfriend's house.
  • such: Only three people stayed in the gorge, why were the others such cowards?
  • spineless: And what have the spineless cowards at the FA done?
  • anonymous: Alternatively, if you've only got a short thing to say or you're an anonymous coward, use the form below.
  • craven: Is she a craven coward or are the puppies just bought in for resale?

Modifies a noun

  • heart: Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys.
  • way: All I actually said was the bit about the six times the rate of inflation before I took the cowards way outside.
  • slave: The coward slave, we pass him by We dare be poor for a ' that!
Coward Quotes

Dear Mrs A, Hooray, hooray, At last you are deflowered. On this as every other day I love youöNoe«  l Coward.

—Coward, Sir Noe«  l Peirce

coward Quotes

Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent it seldom has justice enough to accuse.

—Goldsmith, Oliver

Yet each man kills the thing he loves, By each let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word. The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword!

—Wilde, Oscar Fingal O'FlahertieWills

I would have run to him, only I was a coward in the presence of such a moböwould have embraced him, only, he being an Englishman, I did not know how he would receive me; so I did what cowardice and false pride suggested was the best thingöwalked deliberately to him, took off my hat, and said: 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?' 'Yes,'said he, with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly. I replace my hat on my head, and he puts on his cap, and we both grasp hands, and I then sayaloud: 'I thank God,Doctor, I have been permitted to see you.' He answered,'I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you.'

—Stanley, Sir Henry Morton originally John Rowlands

At Flores in the Azores Sir Richard Grenville lay, And a pinnace, like a fluttered bird, came flying from far away: 'Spanishships of warat sea! Wehavesighted fifty-three!' Then sware Lord Thomas Howard: ''Fore God I am no coward; But I cannot meetthem here, for my ships are out of gear, And the half my men are sick. I must fly, but followquick. Wearesix ships oftheline; canwefight withfifty-three?' Then spake Sir Richard Grenville: 'I know you are no coward; You fly them for a moment to fight with them again. But I've ninety men and more that are lying sick ashore. I should count myself the coward if I left them, my Lord Howard, To these Inquisition dogs and the devildoms of Spain.' So Lord Howard passed away with five ships of war that day, Till he melted like a cloud in the silent summer heaven.

—Tennyson

coward Quotes

He was just a coward and that was the worst luck any man could have.

—Hemingway, Ernest Millar

The sea hates a coward!

—O'Neill, Eugene Gladstone

Browse dictionary entries near coward

  1. cowage
  2. cow town
  3. cow shark
  4. cow pony
  5. cow pilot
  6. cow parsnip
  7. cow parsley
  8. cow killer
  9. cow college
  10. cow
  1. cowardice
  2. cowardly
  3. cowbane
  4. cowbell
  5. cowberry
  6. cowbind
  7. cowbird
  8. cowboy
  9. cowboy boot
  10. cowboy hat