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# coward

«coward» in Mova's school dictionary: **a person who is too afraid to do what is right, brave or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a coward, cowards)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A coward is a person who is too afraid to do what is right, brave or necessary, or who runs away from danger or difficulty. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#m1)

2) (insult) Calling someone a coward is a strong insult meaning they have no courage. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In stories and legends, the coward runs away while the hero stays; in ethics lessons pupils learn that bullies can be cowards, picking on weaker people. It also teaches that being afraid is normal; acting rightly in spite of fear is bravery. Phrases: «a coward's way out», «cowardly», «don't be a coward».

### examples

- The bully was a coward who only picked on small children. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x1)
- The cowardly lion in the story was really brave in the end. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x2)
- He called me a coward because I wouldn't jump off the wall. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x3)
- Telling the truth when it is hard is the opposite of being a coward. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x4)
- The soldier was not a coward; he stayed to help his friends. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x5)
- Running away from the fight was not cowardly; it was sensible. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x6)
- Two Tails is a great coward. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/#x7)

### note

Countable: a coward, cowards. Adjective «cowardly», noun «cowardice». Trap: «cowardly» looks like an adverb but is an adjective (a cowardly act). Not every fear is cowardice: walking away from danger can be wise. Do not confuse with «cower» (to crouch down in fear).

### In the corpora

- [At tea Grandad says: «Being frightened means you're a coward, lad.» Dad puts his fork down.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/366-sam-is-scared-fear-is-normal/7/)
- [Being frightened does not make someone a coward; courage means doing the right thing while feeling afraid.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/366-sam-is-scared-fear-is-normal/21/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «coward» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/coward/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.