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 on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
skulkcrouchcringeflinchrecoilwincetremblefawnkowtowsneakgrovelhoneyblenchbootlicktoadyquailshrinktruckleapple-polishExamples from the Web for cowering
Contemporary Examples
Samwell Tarly starts the episode his same old pining, cowering self.
Game of Thrones’ 'The Watchers on the Wall': The Battle of Castle Black Is One For the AgesAndrew Romano
June 9, 2014
The officers warned my cowering Oma (grandma) what might await the cousin if she ever did return.
The man who appears resolute and forceful in public is, behind closed doors, cowering in fear.
In the incident, 12-year-old Muhammad Al-Dura was reportedly shot and killed by Israeli forces while cowering behind his father.
Split up into ones and twos, they are easy targets for the shooters, who find it easy to pick off cowering people one by one.
Historical Examples
"Put him out," said Katrina, with a glance of disdain at the cowering man.
City of Endless NightMilo Hastings
They would be cowering there, probably in darkness, not knowing what was going on.
In the Orbit of SaturnRoman Frederick Starzl
He was gesticulating wildly, and Rathburn could see that the girl was cowering.
The CoyoteJames Roberts
Clinton's paroxysm was over, and sinking to the floor he lay there shivering and cowering.
A Master of MysteriesL. T. Meade
The woman, cowering against the door, covered her ears, and groaned.
In Kings' BywaysStanley J. Weyman
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 cowering
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