First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
cower
cower
verb cow·er \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
- They cowered at the sight of the gun.
- She was cowering in the closet.
- I cowered behind the door.
Origin of COWER
Middle English couren, probably from Middle Low German kūren
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