[cow.ard.ly] adv (14c): in a cowardly manner
[2]cowardly adj (1551): being, resembling, or befitting a coward "a ~ retreat" -- cow.ard.li.ness n syn cowardly, pusillanimous, craven, dastardly mean having or showing a lack of courage. cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage "a cowardly failure to stand up for principle". pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage "the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility". craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance "secretly despised her own craven yes-men". dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous "a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians".