cower
[kou-er]
- 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
Synonyms
See more synonyms for cower on Thesaurus.comcringe, recoil, flinch, quail.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for cowered
Contemporary Examples
For over an hour a gun battle raged between them and my guards as I cowered inside my car, not knowing if I would live or die.
Historical Examples
If ever one cowered visibly in this world, Hamish Channing did then.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
Jonas shrunk from looking at him, and cowered down into the chair by which he had held.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
Sim cowered in a corner of the box, with his lank fingers in his long hair.
The Shadow of a CrimeHall Caine
He glared at Nat Burns, who cowered silent and miserable in his corner.
The Harbor of DoubtFrank Williams
She turned on him, silent, a moment: he cowered and evaded her eyes.
cower
- (intr) to crouch or cringe, as in fear
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for cowered
cower
v.
c.1300, probably from Middle Low German *kuren "lie in wait" (Modern German kauern), or similar Scandinavian words meaning "to squat" and "to doze" (e.g. Old Norse kura, Danish, Norwegian kure, Swedish kura). Thus unrelated to coward. Related: Cowered; cowering.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper