coward
- 01 C1 Advanced
showing a lack of courage; afraid.
displaying a lack of courage. While 'cowardly' is the standard adjective form, 'coward' is occasionally used attributively in literary contexts.
Simple“The king was tired of his coward advisors who always wanted to run away.”
In context“The poet described the coward heart that trembles at the mere thought of conflict.”
PitfallHe made a coward decision. He made a cowardly decision.In modern English, 'cowardly' is the standard adjective. Use 'coward' as an adjective only in very formal or literary styles.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a term used in old family symbols to describe an animal shown with its tail between its legs.
describing an animal, typically a lion, depicted in heraldry with its tail doubled between its hind legs. This is a highly specific technical term.
Simple“The family shield featured a lion coward, representing a specific historical event.”
In context“The heraldic description specified a lion coward, a rare charge that distinguished this branch of the nobility from their more aggressive cousins.”