cowardly

From Middle English *cowardly (adjective) and cowardly (adverb), equivalent to coward +‎ -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkaʊədli/

• Audio (Southern England):

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cowardly (comparative cowardlier or more cowardly, superlative cowardliest or most cowardly)

1. Showing cowardice; lacking in courage; weakly fearful.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:cowardly

   • 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]:

     The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle.

   • 1780, Edmund Burke, speech at The Guildhall, in Bristol

     The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face.

cowardly (comparative more cowardly, superlative most cowardly)

1. (archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene v:

     We will not ſteale vpon him cowardly,
     But giue him warning and more warriours.

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 48:

     I love to follow them, but not so cowardly, as my life remaine thereby in subjection.

   • 1828, John Paul, A Refutation of Arianism‎^[1], page 20:

     […] men who cowardly and hypocritically subscribe orthodox creeds, whilst they teach a different kind of doctrine!

• couherdely, couwardli, cowardelye, cowarly, cowerdly, cowwardely, kowardely

From coward +‎ -ly (“adverbial suffix”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuːardliː/

cowardly

1. In a cowardly or knavish way; cowardlily.

• English: cowardie (obsolete)

• “cǒuardlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.