cowardly

Etymology

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

adj

  1. Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful.
    1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face.

adv

  1. (archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily.
    […] men who cowardly and hypocritically subscribe orthodox creeds, whilst they teach a different kind of doctrine! 1828, John Paul, A Refutation of Arianism, page 20

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