craven

[ krey-vuhn ]

adjective

1. cowardly; contemptibly timid; pusillanimous.

   Synonyms: timorous, fearful, dastardly

noun

1. a coward.

verb (used with object)

1. to make cowardly.

craven

/ ˈkreɪvən /

adjective

1. cowardly; mean-spirited

noun

1. a coward

Derived Forms

• ˈcravenness, noun
• ˈcravenly, adverb

Other Words From

• craven·ly adverb
• craven·ness noun
• un·craven adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of craven¹

1175–1225; Middle English cravant, cravaunde defeated < Old French craventé, past participle of cravanter to crush, overwhelm (< Vulgar Latin *crepantāre ), influenced by Middle English creaunt defeated ( recreant )

Word History and Origins

Origin of craven¹

C13 cravant, probably from Old French crevant bursting, from crever to burst, die, from Latin crepāre to burst, crack

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cry craven, to yield; capitulate; give up.

Example Sentences

It might be helpful, now, if a few of these craven Republicans had the stones to say it.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe he could no longer bear the craven truth about himself.

From The Daily Beast

Film stars and politicians are still bussed in to sell their products, in the most craven way possible.

From The Daily Beast

And the President took Pelosi's way, not the highway of craven calculation.

From The Daily Beast

Six miles from Craven Cottage, where Fulham play their home games, is the stadium where this soccer revolution began 10 years ago.

From The Daily Beast

I will write again soon and add to the melancholy picture of a once powerful nation shuddering with craven fears.

From Project Gutenberg

Karl replied: In a bad way are we with our King for he is both halt & craven.

From Project Gutenberg

Then spake Vandrad: The King is not craven, but neither he is victorious.

From Project Gutenberg

Or, if dialect poetry must be concerned only with rustic life, was the Craven dalesman to have no voice in the matter?

From Project Gutenberg

He had punished a man for a base and craven act; he had challenged him and met him in fair fight.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mean-spirited