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Cower vs Tremble - What's the difference?

cower | tremble | Related terms |

As verbs the difference between cower and tremble

is that cower is {{cx|intransitive|lang=en}} To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear while tremble is to shake, quiver, or vibrate.

As a noun tremble is

a shake, quiver, or vibration.

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)

    tremble

    English

    Verb

  • To shake, quiver, or vibrate.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.}}

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A shake, quiver, or vibration.