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cravenness

 - 2 dictionary results

cra⋅ven

  [krey-vuhn]
Use cravenness in a Sentence
–adjective
1. cowardly; contemptibly timid; pusillanimous.
–noun
2. a coward.
–verb (used with object)
3. to make cowardly.
—Idiom
4. cry craven, to yield; capitulate; give up.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME cravant, cravaunde defeated < OF craventé, ptp. of cravanter to crush, overwhelm (< VL *crepantāre), influenced by ME creaunt defeated (see recreant )

Related forms:
cra⋅ven⋅ly, adverb
cra⋅ven⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. dastardly, fearful, timorous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To cravenness
cra·ven   (krā'vən)   
adj.  Characterized by abject fear; cowardly.
n.  A coward.

[Middle English cravant, perhaps from Old French crevant, present participle of crever, to burst, from Latin crepāre, to break.]
cra'ven·ly adv., cra'ven·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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