19 November 2013

craven

[krey-vuhn]

adjective

1. cowardly; contemptibly timid; pusillanimous. For example, ‘The craven manager capitaluted’.
noun
2. a coward.
verb (used with object)
3. to make cowardly.
Idioms
4. cry craven, to yield; capitulate; give up.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English cravant, cravaunde defeated < Old French craventé, past participle of cravanter to crush, overwhelm (< Vulgar Latin *crepantāre ), influenced by Middle English creaunt defeated (see recreant)

Related forms
cra·ven·ly, adverb
cra·ven·ness, noun
un·cra·ven, adjective

Synonyms
1. dastardly, fearful, timorous.

Today’s aphorism

Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.

– Bruce Lee

On this day

19 November 1863 – President Lincoln delivers the ‘Gettysburg Address’ during the American Civil War, while dedicating the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech commenced with the now-famous words, ‘Four score and seven years ago …’, which was referring to the Declaration of Independence in 1777. The speech addressed equality, freedom and democracy being representative of all people.

19 November 2007 – share markets across the globe crashed, as the world entered the Global Financial Crisis.