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pusillanimous

[ pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muhs ]
/ ˌpyu səˈlæn ə məs /
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adjective

lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.
proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.

RELATED WORDS

afraid, chicken, cowardly, gutless, tame, timid, timorous

Nearby words

  1. pushrod,
  2. pushto,
  3. pushtu,
  4. pushy,
  5. pusillanimity,
  6. puskas,
  7. puss,
  8. puss in the corner,
  9. puss moth,
  10. pussy

Origin of pusillanimous

1580–90; < Late Latin pusillanimis petty-spirited, equivalent to Latin pusill(us) very small, petty + -anim(is) -spirited, -minded (anim(us) spirit + -is adj. suffix); see -ous
Related formspu·sil·lan·i·mous·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pusillanimous

British Dictionary definitions for pusillanimous

pusillanimous

/ (ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs) /

adjective

characterized by a lack of courage or determination
Derived Formspusillanimity (ˌpjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪtɪ), nounpusillanimously, adverb

Word Origin for pusillanimous

C16: from Late Latin pusillanimis from Latin pusillus weak + animus courage
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
Word Origin and History for pusillanimous

pusillanimous

adj.

early 15c., from Late Latin pusillanimis "having little courage" (used in Church Latin to translate Greek oligopsychos "small-souled"), from Latin pusillis "very weak, little" (diminutive of pullus "young animal;" see foal (n.)) + animus "spirit, courage" (see animus). Related: Pusillanimously; pusillanimousness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper