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Contort vs Cower - What's the difference?

contort | cower |

As verbs the difference between contort and cower

is that contort is to twist in a violent manner; as, features contorted with fury while cower is {{cx|intransitive|lang=en}} To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.

contort

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To twist in a violent manner; as, features contorted with fury.
  • To twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression.
  • Synonyms

    * deform * detort * twist

    Derived terms

    * contortion * contortive English ergative verbs

    cower

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) kuren or from Scandinavian ((etyl) . Unrelated to coward, which is of Latin origin.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
  • He'd be useless in war. He'd just cower in his bunker until the enemy came in and shot him, or until the war was over.
  • * Dryden
  • Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire.
  • * Goldsmith
  • Like falcons, cowering on the nest.
    See also
    * coward * cowardice

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To cherish with care.
  • (Webster 1913)