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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pu·sil·lan·i·mous

Audio Help [pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muh

s] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.

2.	proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.

[Origin: 1580–90; < LL pusillanimis petty-spirited, equiv. to L pusill(us) very small, petty + -anim(is) -spirited, -minded (anim(us) spirit + -is adj. suffix); see -ous

]

—Related forms

pu·sil·lan·i·mous·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. timorous, fearful, frightened.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
pusillanimous

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pu·sil·lan·i·mous Audio Help (pyōō'sə-lān'ə-məs) Pronunciation Key
adj. Lacking courage; cowardly.

[Middle English pusillanimus, from Late Latin pusillanimis : Latin pusillus, weak, diminutive of pullus, young of an animal; see pau-¹ in Indo-European roots + animus, reason, mind; see anə- in Indo-European roots.]

pu'sil·lan'i·mous·ly adv.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pusillanimous

1390 (implied in pusillanimity), from L.L. pusillanimis "having little courage" (used in Church L. to translate Gk. oligopsychos "small-souled"), from L. pusillis "very weak, little" (dim. of pullus "young animal") + animus "spirit, courage."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

pusillanimous
adjective
lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pusillanimous

Pu`sil*lan"i*mous\, a. [L. pusillannimis; pusillus very little (dim. of pusus a little boy; cf. puer a boy, E. puerile) + animus the mind: cf. F. pusillanime. See Animosity.]

1. Destitute of a manly or courageous strength and firmness of mind; of weak spirit; mean-spirited; spiritless; cowardly; -- said of persons, as, a pussillanimous prince.

2. Evincing, or characterized by, weakness of mind, and want of courage; feeble; as, pusillanimous counsels. "A low and pusillanimous spirit." --Burke.

Syn: Cowardly; dastardly; mean-spirited; fainthearted; timid; weak; feeble.

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pusillanimous

pusillanimous was Word of the Day on November 6, 1999.

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