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Added 9 October 2026

cowardly

/ˈkaʊədli/ adjective

In Latin: īgnāvus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cowardly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted.
cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then

Origin

From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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