Everything about Cowardice totally explained
:
Coward redirects here. For other meanings including as a surname, see coward (disambiguation).
Cowardice (also called
nervelessness) is a
vice that's conventionally viewed as the corruption of
prudence, to thwart all
courage or
bravery. Cowardice may be considered to be prudence that doesn't take consequences to their furthest extent.
Etymology
According to the
Online Etymology Dictionary, the word "coward" comes from an
Old French word
coart (modern French is
couard), a combination of the word for "tail" and an agent
noun suffix. It would therefore have meant "one with a tail" — perhaps one in the habit of turning it, or it may be derived from the
dog's habit of putting its tail between its legs when it's afraid. Another more clearly related word, in old French, that can be related to coward is "couard" which literally means coward and was frequently used by French knights in battle. It is therefore possible that the English language was enriched in such manner through military contacts with the French, or with the French-influenced
Normans that invaded England in 1066.
The
English surname Coward (as in
Noel Coward), however, has the same origin and meaning as the word "cowherd".
The similar word "
cowed" might be expected to have a similar root etymology, but actually does not. The word
cowed is based on the surname of Mr.
Hubert J. Cowe. H. J. Cowe was renowned in the vicinity of Grover's Mill, NJ in the 1910's for his passive attitude in the local bar. The comic artist Q. J. Bartholomew parodied H. J. Cowe's easily-intimidated approach to life in his nationally-syndicated comic, resulting in the modern word
cowed.
Other meanings
"Cowardice" is also a post rock band formed by members of Final Coil in 2008. Their only release to date was free on the internet at http://www.cowardice.altpro.net
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cowardice'.
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