Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Craven
Cra′ven
(kr?′v’n)
, Adj.
[OE.
cravant
, cravaunde
, OF. cravant[GREEK]
struck down, p. p. of cravanter
, crevanter
, to break, crush, strike down, fr. an assumed LL. crepantare
, fr. L. crepans
, p. pr. of crepare
to break, crack, rattle. Cf. Crevice
, Crepitate
.] Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless.
“His craven heart.” Shak.
The poor
craven
bridegroom said never a word. Sir. W. Scott.
In
craven
fear of the sarcasm of Dorset. Macaulay.
Cra′ven
,Noun.
[Formerly written also
cravant
and cravent
.] A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See
Recreant
, Noun.
Syn. – Coward; poltroon; dastard.
Cra′ven
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cravened
(-v’nd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cravening
.] To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly.
[Obs.]
There is a prohibition so divine,
That
That
cravens
my weak hand. Shakespeare
Definition 2024
Craven
craven
craven
See also: Craven
English
Adjective
craven (comparative more craven, superlative most craven)
- Unwilling to fight; lacking even the rudiments of courage; extremely cowardly.
- Sir Walter Scott
- The poor craven bridegroom said never a word.
- Sir Walter Scott
Derived terms
- cry craven
Translations
extremely cowardly
Noun
craven (plural cravens)
- A coward.
- Shakespeare
- He is a craven and a villain else.
- Shakespeare
Translations
coward
Verb
craven (third-person singular simple present cravens, present participle cravening, simple past and past participle cravened)
- To make craven.
- 1609: William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Cymbeline, Act III, Scene IV
- There is a prohibition so divine / That cravens my weak hand.
- 1609: William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Cymbeline, Act III, Scene IV
References
- craven in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- craven in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Anagrams
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old French cravanté (“defeated”), past participle of cravanter, from Latin crepare (“to crack", "creak”)
Adjective
craven
Etymology 2
Old English crafian, indicating Proto-Germanic *krabōną (compare related Old Norse krefja (“to demand”) > Danish kræve, Norwegian kreve (“to demand”)).
Verb
craven
Derived terms
- icravet (past participle)