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/ === Adjective === cowardly (comparative cowardlier or more cowardly, superlative cowardliest or most cowardly) Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful. Synonyms: craven; see also Thesaurus:cowardly 1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === cowardly (comparative more cowardly, superlative most cowardly) (archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily. ==== Translations ==== == Middle English == === Alternative forms === couherdely, couwardli, cowardelye, cowarly, cowerdly, cowwardely, kowardely === Etymology === From coward +‎ -ly (“adverbial suffix”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkuːardliː/ === Adverb === cowardly In a cowardly or knavish way; cowardlily. ==== Descendants ==== English: cowardie (obsolete) ==== References ==== “cǒuardlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.