Cowardice

Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊərdɪs/

Definitions of cowardice

noun a lack of courage or bravery; timidity

Example Sentences

A1 Cowardice is when someone is afraid to face their fears.

A2 The soldier was accused of cowardice for running away from the battlefield.

B1 His cowardice prevented him from standing up for what he believed in.

B2 The politician's cowardice in making tough decisions cost him the election.

C1 Her cowardice in the face of danger shocked everyone who knew her.

C2 The general's cowardice led to the defeat of his entire army.

Examples of cowardice in a Sentence

formal His act of running away in the face of danger showed his cowardice.

informal He chickened out at the last minute, revealing his cowardice.

slang Don't be such a wimp, show some courage instead of cowardice.

figurative The decision to stay silent in the face of injustice is a form of cowardice.

Grammatical Forms of cowardice

• past tense: cowardiced
• plural: cowardices
• comparative: more cowardly
• superlative: most cowardly
• present tense: cowardices
• future tense: will cowardice
• perfect tense: have cowardiced
• continuous tense: is cowardicing
• singular: cowardice
• positive degree: cowardice
• infinitive: to cowardice
• gerund: cowardicing
• participle: cowardiced

Origin and Evolution of cowardice

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'cowardice' originated from the Old French word 'coardise' which was derived from the Latin word 'cauda' meaning 'tail'. In medieval times, a 'coward' was likened to a dog that tucks its tail between its legs in fear.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cowardice' has evolved to encompass the idea of lacking courage or bravery, rather than just the physical act of retreating in fear. It has become a common term used to describe someone who shows fear or timidity in the face of danger or adversity.