/craven/definition

/craven/

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: kreɪv(ə)n.

-) Etymology: of uncertain origin. Maybe from Old French cravant, present participle of crever “to cause to burst”, from Latin crepare “to break, crack”.

-) 1. (Documented since 1200) vanquished. Now only in the phrase “to cry craven” (documented since 1600): to acknowledge oneself vanquished; to surrender.

"Do you repent the bargain you have made?" said the Swiss; "if so, cry craven, and return in safety.

Scott… Anne of Geierstein… 1829

And the conditions of the battle are these; if the appellee slay the appellant, or force him to cry 'craven,' or make good his defense until the stars be seen in heaven, then shall he, the appellee, be acquitted of the murder.

Herbert… Wager of Battle… 1855

-) 2. (Documented since 1400) that acknowledges himself afraid of his antagonist. Hence: a. (Of a person) cowardly, wanting in courage, pusillanimous, timorous. b. (Of a thing) proceeding from cowardice.

-) Antonyms: courageous, daring, fearless, intrepid, fearless, dauntless, valiant, audacious.

-) Synonyms for “craven”: timid, fearful, cowardly, shy, timid.

-) Translation: poltron, in French; cobarde, in Spanish; codardo, in Italian.

 There was craven fear in his face.

Bindloss… Thrice Armed… 1908

-) As a noun: a person who acknowledges himself coward.

-) Synonyms: coward, poltroom, dastard.

[…] that a craven might turn hero as he listened.

The Metropolitan Magazine… 1841

-) Words derived from the adjective “craven”: cravenly, craven (verb for “make craven or cowardly”).