cowardness
English
Etymology
From Middle English cowardnesse; equivalent to coward + -ness.
Noun
cowardness (uncountable)
- (obsolete) Synonym of cowardice.
- 1551, Thomas More, “The Second Boke of the Communycacion of Raphael Hythlodaye, Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe: Cõteynyng the Discription of Utopia, with a Large Declaration of the Godly Gouernement, and of All the Good Lawes and Orders of the Same Ilande. Of Warfare.”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC, signature P.iiij., recto:
- Bycauſe they beleue, yf annye man be fearefull and faynte harted of nature, he wyll not onelye doo no manfull and hardye act hym ſelfe, but alſo by occaſyon of cowardenes to hys fellowes.