— cravenly , adv. — cravenness , n.
/kray"veuhn/ , adj.
1. cowardly; contemptibly timid; pusillanimous.
n.
2. a coward.
3. cry craven , to yield; capitulate; give up.
v.t.
4. to make cowardly.
[ 1175-1225; ME cravant, cravaunde defeated craventé, ptp. of cravanter to crush, overwhelm ( crepantare ), influenced by ME creaunt defeated (see RECREANT) ]
Syn. 1. dastardly, fearful, timorous.