Lower vs Cower - What's the difference?
lower | cower |
(low)
bottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object
(geology, of strata or geological time periods) older
To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down
to pull down
To reduce the height of
To depress as to direction
To make less elevated
To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of
To bring down; to humble
(reflexive) (lower oneself ) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.
To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease
To decrease in value, amount, etc.
To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
* Dryden
* Goldsmith
As verbs the difference between lower and cower
is that lower is to let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down or lower can be while cower is to crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear or cower can be (obsolete|transitive) to cherish with care.As an adjective lower
is (low).As an adverb lower
is .lower
English
Etymology 1
From (low) +Adjective
(head)Antonyms
* (more low) higher * (bottom) upper * (older) upperAdverb
(head)Verb
(en verb)- lower a bucket into a well
- to lower a sail of a boat
- to lower a flag
- Lowered softly with a threefold cord of love / Down to a silent grave. .
- lower a fence or wall
- lower a chimney or turret
- lower the aim of a gun
- to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes
- lower the temperature
- lower one's vitality
- lower distilled liquors
- lower one's pride
- I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes.
- lower the price of goods
- lower the interest rate
- The river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
Synonyms
* bring down * shorten * * reduce * reduce, turn down * * be humble * cut, reduce * die off, drop, fall, fall off, shrink * become/get smaller, become/get lower, lessen, reduceEtymology 2
Statistics
*cower
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) kuren or from Scandinavian ((etyl) . Unrelated to coward, which is of Latin origin.Verb
(en verb)- 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.
- Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire.
- Like falcons, cowering on the nest.