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Webster 1913 Edition


Cower

Cow′er

(kou′ẽr)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cowered
(kou′ẽrd)
;
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.
Our dame sits
cowering
o’er a kitchen fire.
Dryden.
Like falcons,
cowering
on the nest.
Goldsmith.

Cow′er

(kou′ẽr)
,
Verb.
T.
To cherish with care.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Cower

COWER

,
Verb.
I.
To sink by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; to stoop or sink downwards.
Our dame wits cowering oer a kitchen fire.

COWER

,
Verb.
T.
To cherish with care. [Not used.]

Definition 2024


cower

cower

English

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -aʊə(ɹ)
  • Rhymes: -aʊ.ə(ɹ)

Verb

cower (third-person singular simple present cowers, present participle cowering, simple past and past participle cowered)

  1. (intransitive) To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
    He'd be useless in war. He'd just cower in his bunker until the enemy came in and shot him, or until the war was over.
    • Dryden
      Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire.
    • Goldsmith
      Like falcons, cowering on the nest.
Translations
See also

Etymology 2

Verb

cower (third-person singular simple present cowers, present participle cowering, simple past and past participle cowered)

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To cherish with care.