Search results
As verbs the difference between cowed and cowered is that cowed is (cow) while cowered is (cower). As an adjective cowed is frightened into submission.
31 maj 2016 · “Cowered” is just the past tense of “cower” and should not be used as a spelling for the label given to a timid person. “It’s always “a coward” and “the coward.” “Cowered” is also occasionally used improperly when “cowed”—meaning “intimidated”—is meant.
Definition of cowed adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
'Coward' comes from words meaning 'tail' used metaphorically. 'cower' comes from words referring to posture of being squatted, sat, lying down, or someone resting or dozing and came to refer to being afraid much more recently.
coward / cowered are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇
frightened by threats or violence into doing something : She was neither defensive nor cowed by them. I will always remember the cowed faces of hostages sweating in the summer heat. Fewer examples. She offered a cowed plea for forgiveness on national television.
verb [ I ] us / ˈkɑʊ·ər, kɑʊər / Add to word list. to bend down or move backward with your head down because you are frightened: The dog cowered in the corner, realizing she’d done something wrong. (Definition of cower from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
