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

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

Related Words

flinch, recoil, shrink, squinch; blanch, blench, whiten; fawn, kowtow, toady

See Synonym Discussion at fawn

Rhymes with COWER

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