coward

a person who lacks courage; very fearful or timid; craven; dastard: She was too much of a coward to go out after dark.
Not to be confused with:cowered – cringed, recoiled, crouched as in fear: The puppy cowered in the corner.

cow·ard

C0706300 (kou′ərd)n. One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain.

[Middle English, from Old French couard, from coue, tail, from Latin cauda.]

cow′ard adj.Word History: A coward is one who "turns tail." The word comes from Old French couart, coart, "coward," and is related to Italian codardo, "coward." Couart is formed from coe, a northern French dialectal variant of cue, "tail" (from Latin cōda), to which the derogatory suffix -ard was added. This suffix appears in bastard, laggard, and sluggard, to name a few. In heraldry a lion couard, "cowardly lion," was depicted with his tail between his legs. So a coward may be one with his tail hidden between his legs or one who turns tail and runs like a rabbit, with his tail showing.

coward

(ˈkaʊəd) na person who shrinks from or avoids danger, pain, or difficulty[C13: from Old French cuard, from coue tail, from Latin cauda; perhaps suggestive of a frightened animal with its tail between its legs]

Coward

(ˈkaʊəd) n (Biography) Sir Noël (Pierce). 1899–1973, English dramatist, actor, and composer, noted for his sophisticated comedies, which include Private Lives (1930) and Blithe Spirit (1941)

cow•ard

(ˈkaʊ ərd)

n. 1. a person who shows shameful lack of courage or fortitude. adj. 2. of or pertaining to a coward. [1175–1225; Middle English < Old French couard-, couart cowardly, derivative of coue tail < Latin cauda]

Cow•ard

(ˈkaʊ ərd)

n. Noel, 1899–1973, English playwright.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	coward - a person who shows fear or timidityindividual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"cur - a cowardly and despicable persondastard - a despicable cowardcraven, poltroon, recreant - an abject cowardtrembler, quaker - one who quakes and trembles with (or as with) fearshrinking violet, shy person - someone who shrinks from familiarity with othersmilksop, Milquetoast, pantywaist, sissy, pansy - a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertivehesitater, hesitator, vacillator, waverer - one who hesitates (usually out of fear)
	2.	Coward - English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973)Noel Coward, Sir Noel Pierce Coward

coward

noun wimp, chicken (slang), scaredy-cat (informal), sneak, funk (informal), craven (informal), pussy (slang, chiefly U.S.), yellow-belly (slang), poltroon The man's just a lily-livered coward.Quotations
"Cowards die many times before their deaths" [William Shakespeare Julius Caesar]
"coward: one who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs" [Ambrose Bierce The Devil's Dictionary]
"May coward shame distain his name,"
"The wretch that dares not die!" [Robert Burns McPherson's Farewell]
"All men would be cowards if they durst" [John Wilmot A Satire against Mankind]

coward

nounAn ignoble, uncourageous person:craven, dastard, funk, poltroon.Slang: chicken, yellow-belly.

Translations

懦夫胆小鬼

coward

(ˈkauəd) noun a person who shows fear easily or is easily frightened. I am such a coward – I hate going to the dentist.懦夫ˈcowardly adjective怯懦的ˈcowardice (-dis) noun懦弱ˈcowardliness noun怯懦

coward

→ 胆小鬼zhCN

coward

a bully is always a coward

A bully will only mistreat others perceived to be weaker. Of course he always picks on kids who are smaller than him. A bully is always a coward.See also: always, bully, coward

conscience does make cowards of us all

The conscience often prevents one from doing things that one wants to do (perhaps things that wrong or inappropriate). The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet. I really want to insult him back, but I just can't. Ugh, conscience does make cowards of us all.See also: all, conscience, coward, does, make, of

cowards die many times before their death(s)

People who constantly fear death feel the stress associated with it many times before actually dying. This phrase comes from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. It's really true that cowards die many times before their death—what would be a simple task for someone else causes me great anxiety.See also: before, coward, die, many, times

take the coward's way out

euphemism To kill oneself; to commit suicide. His father was millions of dollars in debt, but rather than face up to his obligations, he just took the coward's way out. No matter how things get, I will never take the coward's way out.See also: out, take, way

bully is always a coward

Prov. Bullies will only intimidate people who are much weaker than they are, because they are afraid of losing a fight. Child: Dad, Joey keeps picking on me. How can I make him stop? Father: Try fighting back. A bully is always a coward. Bill took advantage of the younger children, but he was quiet and docile around the older ones. A bully is always a coward.See also: always, bully, coward

Conscience does make cowards of us all.

Prov. People sometimes fear to do what they want or what they believe is necessary because they think it is wrong. (From Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.) Alan: I really want to go to the ball game with you guys this afternoon, but it just doesn't seem right to skip work to do it. Fred: Conscience does make cowards of us all, right, Alan?See also: all, conscience, coward, does, make, of

Cowards die many times before their death(s).

Prov. Cowards are often afraid that they are going to die, so that they often feel what it is like to die, while brave people only feel the fear of death when they are really about to die. (From Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar.) Every time Nina went out alone, she was always afraid. Cowards die many times before their deaths.See also: before, Coward, death, die, many, times

take the coward's way out

Euph. to kill oneself. When faced with financial disaster, Sarah took the coward's way out. I can't believe that Bill would take the coward's way out. His death must have been an accident.See also: out, take, way

coward

coward

cow·ard

coward

Coward

cow•ard

Cow•ard

coward

coward

coward

coward

coward

a bully is always a coward

conscience does make cowards of us all

cowards die many times before their death(s)

take the coward's way out

bully is always a coward

Conscience does make cowards of us all.

Cowards die many times before their death(s).

take the coward's way out

Coward

Coward

coward

Synonyms for coward

noun wimp

Synonyms

Synonyms for coward

noun an ignoble, uncourageous person

Synonyms

Words related to coward

noun a person who shows fear or timidity

Related Words

noun English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973)

Synonyms