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Cower vs Grovel - What's the difference?

cower | grovel | Related terms |

As verbs the difference between cower and grovel

is that cower is {{cx|intransitive|lang=en}} To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear while grovel is to be prone on the ground.

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)

    grovel

    English

    Verb

  • To be prone on the ground.
  • To crawl
  • To abase oneself before another person.
  • To be nice to someone or apologize in the hope of securing something.
  • To take pleasure in mundane activities.
  • Usage notes

    * The spellings grovelling and grovelled are more common in the UK. Groveling and groveled are more common in the US.

    Anagrams

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