quword
趣词
Word Origins Dictionary
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
cowardly (adj.)
[cowardly 词源字典]
1550s, from
coward
+
-ly
(1). The adverb (late 14c.) is much older than the adjective:
Yit had I levir do what I may Than here to dye thus cowerdelye ["Le Morte d'Arthur," c. 1450]
An Old English word for "cowardly" was
earg
, which also meant "slothful." Related:
Cowardliness
.
[cowardly etymology, cowardly origin, 英语词源]