Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Craven"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Craven \Cra"ven\ (kr?"v'n), a. [OE. cravant, cravaunde, OF.
cravant? struck down, p. p. of cravanter, crevanter, to
break, crush, strike down, fr. an assumed LL. crepantare, fr.
L. crepans, p. pr. of crepare to break, crack, rattle. Cf.
{Crevice}, {Crepitate}.]
Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless. ``His craven heart.''
--Shak.
The poor craven bridegroom said never a word. --Sir. W.
Scott.
In craven fear of the sarcasm of Dorset. --Macaulay.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Craven \Cra"ven\, n. [Formerly written also cravant and
cravent.]
A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See
{Recreant}, n.
King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
Fluellen. He is a craven and a villain else. --Shak.
Syn: Coward; poltroon; dastard.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Craven \Cra"ven\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cravened} (-v'nd); p. pr.
& vb. n. {Cravening}.]
To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly. [Obs.]
There is a prohibition so divine, That cravens my weak
hand. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
craven
adj : lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful;
"the craven fellow turned and ran"; "a craven proposal
to raise the white flag"; "this recreant knight"-
Spenser [syn: {recreant}]
n : an abject coward [syn: {poltroon}, {recreant}]
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