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cower

[ kou-er ]
/ ˈkaʊ ər /
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See synonyms for: cower / cowered / cowering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
to crouch, as in fear or shame.
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Origin of cower

1250–1300; Middle English couren; cognate with Norwegian, Swedish kūra,Middle Low German kūren,German kauern

OTHER WORDS FROM cower

cow·er·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cower in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cower

cower
/ (ˈkaʊə) /

verb
(intr) to crouch or cringe, as in fear

Word Origin for cower

C13: from Middle Low German kūren to lie in wait; related to Swedish kura to lie in wait, Danish kure to squat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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