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Shudder vs Cower - What's the difference?

shudder | cower |

As verbs the difference between shudder and cower

is that shudder is to shake nervously, as if from fear while cower is {{cx|intransitive|lang=en}} To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.

As a noun shudder

is a shivering tremor.

shudder

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A shivering tremor.
  • A moment of almost pleasurable fear; a frisson.

    • Synonyms

    * (shivering tremor ): jiggle, quake, rumble, quiver * (frisson ): shiver, quiver, tingle, thrill

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shake nervously, as if from fear.
  • To vibrate jerkily.

    • Synonyms

    * (shake nervously ): palpitate, shiver, shake, quake * (vibrate jerkily ): flutter, jiggle, shake, wiggle

    See also

    * judder

    References

    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)