Cower: meaning, definitions and examples

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cower

 

[ หˆkaสŠษ™r ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

physical reaction

To cower means to crouch down in fear or shame. It expresses a deep sense of timidity or submission, often as a response to a perceived threat.

Synonyms

cringe, duck, flinch, shrink

Examples of usage

  • The dog cowered in the corner during the storm.
  • She cowered before her angry boss.
  • The children cowered when they heard the loud noise.

Translations

Translations of the word "cower" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น encolher-se

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเคฟเค•เฅเคกเคผเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช kauern

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ merunduk

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัั…ะธะปะธั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ schowaฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ†ใšใใพใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท se recroqueviller

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ agacharse

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท korkmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์›…ํฌ๋ฆฌ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠู†ูƒู…ุด

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sklonit se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ sklonit sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่œท็ผฉ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ skloniti se

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ kรบra

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑั‚ั‹ะปัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ™แƒฃแƒญแƒ•แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dษ™ymษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ acurrucarse

Etymology

The word 'cower' originates from the Middle English 'coweren', which means 'to crouch or to cower'. It can be traced back to the Old English 'cuggan', meaning 'to bend' or 'to stoop', which is related to the Old Norse 'kugga', meaning 'to crouch'. The term has evolved over the centuries to encapsulate not just the physical act of shrinking back, but also the emotional state associated with fear or anxiety. The nuance of being overwhelmed by fear, as it is used today, became more prominent in the 15th century. 'Cower' has consistently maintained its association with emotional response, depicting an individual or animal's instinct to make themselves smaller to avoid danger, a response that is very much ingrained in both human and animal behavior.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,217 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.