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cower


cow·er

verb \ˈkau̇(-ə)r\

: to move back or bend your body down because you are afraid

Full Definition of COWER

intransitive verb
:  to shrink away or crouch especially for shelter from something that menaces, domineers, or dismays
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Examples of COWER

  1. They cowered at the sight of the gun.
  2. She was cowering in the closet.
  3. I cowered behind the door.

Origin of COWER

Middle English couren, probably from Middle Low German kūren
First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COWER

Synonyms
cringe, grovel, quail
See Synonym Discussion at fawn

Rhymes with COWER

bower, dower, flour, flower, glower, lower, power, scour, shower, sour, Stour, tour, tower

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