Pusillanimus
/ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs/noun
An archaic noun meaning a pusillanimous or faint-hearted person.
Did you know?Pusillanimus combines Latin pusillus, “very small,” with animus, “spirit, mind, or courage,” making cowardice sound like diminished inner force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pew-
“A root associated with smallness or fewness, traditionally linked to Latin pusillus and paucus.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
pusillus
“Very small, tiny, or insignificant.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
animus
“Mind, spirit, courage, or inner disposition.”
Classical Latin
Latin
pusillanimus
“Small-spirited, faint-hearted, or lacking courage.”
16th–17th Century
English
pusillanimus
“An archaic English noun for a timid or cowardly person.”
Modern English
English
pusillanimous
“Cowardly, timid, or lacking determination; the surviving standard form related to pusillanimus.”