cower
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cower
1250–1300; Middle English couren; cognate with Norwegian, Swedish kūra, Middle Low German kūren, German kauern
Explanation
To cower is to shrink in fear. Whether they live in the country or city, any mouse will cower when a huge, hungry cat approaches. When you cower, you're not just afraid. You're so terrified that your whole body cringes, crouches, and shrinks in on itself to hide from the source of your fear. Victims of a school bully might cower whenever he comes near, and a law-breaking peasant might cower when brought before a cruel king. Although a coward might cower in fear, the two words aren't related.
Vocabulary lists containing cower
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Of Mice and Men
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"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even Cower concedes he doesn't know how much motivational fuel was generated by disrespecting the Terrible Towel… but reminding his players of it didn't hurt.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2018
Cower, kow′er, v.i. to sink down through fear, &c.: to crouch, for protection or in fear.—adv.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Before I quitted the premises, however, I learned that Tarleton, the actor of those times, was not buried at St. Saviour's, Southwark, as he wished, near Massinger and Cower, but at Shoreditch Church.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 07, No. 43, May, 1861 Creator by Various
"Cower low," said I to my company in the boat, pulling with all my might, the sweat pouring down my face.
From The MS. in a Red Box by Hamilton, John Arthur
Sir Dewin of Castle Cower had not power to hurt them, nor did any other evil light upon them.
From King Arthur's Knights The Tales Re-told for Boys & Girls by Gilbert, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
