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Cower vs Hunker - What's the difference?

cower | hunker |

As verbs the difference between cower and hunker

is that 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 while hunker is to crouch or squat close to the ground.

As a noun hunker is

(dated) a political conservative.

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)

    hunker

    English

    Etymology 1

    Originally Scottish. Origin unknown, but probably of Germanic origin, perhaps *hunk- or *huk-. Probable cognates include Old Norse , Dutch huiken, and German hocken.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To crouch or squat close to the ground.
  • Synonyms
    * (crouch or squat) crouch, squat
    Derived terms
    * hunkers * hunker down

    Etymology 2

    Unknown

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (dated) A political conservative.
  • See also

    * hunkers English intransitive verbs ----