cower

英 ['kaʊə(r)] 美 ['kaʊər]

v.畏缩；退缩；抖缩

◉词源

“cower”源自中古英语“cowren”，意为“蹲下、畏缩”，可能来自古诺斯语“kúra”（蹲伏、休息）或低地德语“kūren”（潜伏）。14世纪进入英语，指因恐惧或威胁而蜷缩、退缩，常用于描述身体或心理上的畏惧反应。

◉外刊例句

① 《The New York Times》 (2025年6月8日)

The villagers cowered during the storm.

村民们在风暴中畏缩。

② 《The Guardian》 (2024年11月12日)

He cowered before the angry crowd.

他在愤怒的人群前退缩。

◉经典名著

《简·爱》（Jane Eyre） by Charlotte Brontë (1847)

She cowered under his harsh gaze.

她在严厉的目光下畏缩。

◉Usage Examples

(1) The dog cowered (down) under the table.

(2) In face of difficulties, we should not cower but meet them bravely.

(3) He cowered away/back as she raised her hand to hit him.

(1) 那只狗吓得蜷伏在桌子底下。

(2) 面临困难时我们不应该退缩，而应该勇敢地面对。

(3) 她扬手打他,他立即退缩开[向后退缩]。

◉Usage Notes

To cower is to shrink in fear. Whether they live in the country or city, any mouse will cower when a huge, hungry cat approaches.

When you cower, you're not just afraid. You're so terrified that your whole body cringes, crouches, and shrinks in on itself to hide from the source of your fear. Victims of a school bully cower whenever he comes near. They're in no rush to have their lunch money stolen again, or to get another wedgie, so they cower to avoid being seen. Although a coward might cower in fear, the two words aren't related.

◉柯林斯词典

1[VERB 动词](因恐惧而)蜷缩，畏缩 If you cower, you bend forward and downwards because you are very frightened. [V]

The hostages cowered in their seats.

人质们蜷缩在座位上。