cower

[ kou-er ]
See synonyms for cower on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to crouch, as in fear or shame.

Origin of cower

1
1250–1300; Middle English couren; cognate with Norwegian, Swedish kūra,Middle Low German kūren,German kauern

Other words for cower

Other words from cower

  • cow·er·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cower in a sentence

  • The mother cowers behind her sewing-machine; and her seam runs somewhat awry.

    Egholm and his God | Johannes Buchholtz

British Dictionary definitions for cower

cower

/ (ˈkaʊə) /


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

Origin of cower

1
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