pusillanimous

pu·sil·lan·i·mous

P0676000 (pyo͞o′sə-lăn′ə-məs)adj. Lacking courage; cowardly.

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[Middle English pusillanimus, from Late Latin pusillanimis : Latin pusillus, weak, diminutive of pullus, young of an animal; see pau- in Indo-European roots + animus, reason, mind; see anə- in Indo-European roots.]

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pu′sil·lan′i·mous·ly adv.

pusillanimous

(ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs) adjcharacterized by a lack of courage or determination[C16: from Late Latin pusillanimis from Latin pusillus weak +animus courage] pusillanimity n ˌpusilˈlanimously adv

pu•sil•lan•i•mous

(ˌpyu səˈlæn ə məs)

adj. 1. lacking courage or resolution; cowardly. 2. indicating a cowardly spirit. [1580–90; < Late Latin pusillanimis mean-spirited = Latin pusill(us) very small, petty + -animis -spirited, -minded, adj. derivative of animus spirit; see -ous] pu`sil•la•nim′i•ty (-ləˈnɪm ɪ ti) n. pu`sil•lan′i•mous•ly, adv.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

pusillanimous - lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearfulpoor-spirited, unmanlycowardly, fearful - lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted; "cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then"- P.B.Shelley

pusillanimous

adjective (Formal) cowardly, timid, spineless, craven, yellow (informal), weak, fearful, feeble, abject, gutless (informal), timorous, faint-hearted, recreant (archaic), chicken-hearted, lily-livered The authorities are too pusillanimous to deal with this situation.
brave, daring, bold, heroic, courageous, fearless, gallant, intrepid, valiant, plucky, dauntless, valorous

pusillanimous

adjectiveIgnobly lacking in courage:chickenhearted, cowardly, craven, dastardly, faint-hearted, lily-livered, unmanly.Slang: chicken, gutless, yellow, yellow-bellied.

Translations

pusilánimepeureuxpusillanimetimidevilepusilânime