Cowering

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  cowering \cowering\ adj.
     characterized by or showing abject fear. [prenominal]
  
     Syn: craven, cringing(prenominal), fearful, recreant.
          [WordNet 1.5]



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cower \Cow"er\ (kou"[~e]r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Cowered}
     (kou"[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cowering}.] [Cf. Icel. kera to
     doze, liequiet, Sw. kura, Dan. kure, G. kauern to cower, W.
     cwrian.]
     To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to
     quail; to sink through fear.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Like falcons, cowering on the nest.      --Goldsmith.
     [1913 Webster]