Cowedly
/ˈkaʊ.ɪd.li/noun
In a timid, frightened, or submissive manner.
Did you know?“Cowedly” is built from *cow*, but not the animal: it comes from a verb meaning “to frighten into submission,” a Germanic root tied to being overawed and subdued.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱewh₁-
“to see, perceive, notice”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hugjaną
“to think, consider”
Old Norse
ON
kugga
“to cow, subdue”
Middle English
ME
couwen
“to frighten, subdue”
16th Century
English
cowed
“frightened into submission”
Modern English
English
cowedly
“in a frightened or submissive manner”