cowardly

English

Etymology

From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward +‎ -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkaʊədli/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Adjective

cowardly (comparative cowardlier or more cowardly, superlative cowardliest or most cowardly)

1. 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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     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 terms

• cowardlily
• cowardly lion

Translations

Adverb

cowardly (comparative more cowardly, superlative most cowardly)

1. (archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First Part , 2nd edition, part 1, London: 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, translated by John Florio, The Essayes , book I, London: Val 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, page 20:

     […] men who cowardly and hypocritically subscribe orthodox creeds, whilst they teach a different kind of doctrine!

Translations

Middle English

Alternative forms

• couherdely, couwardli, cowardelye, cowarly, cowerdly, cowwardely, kowardely

Etymology

From coward +‎ -ly (“adverbial suffix”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuːardliː/

Adverb

cowardly

1. In a cowardly or knavish way; cowardlily.

Descendants

• English: cowardie (obsolete)

References

• “cǒuardlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.