Etymology dictionary. 2014.
Pusillanimous — Pu sil*lan i*mous, a. [L. pusillanimis; pusillus very little (dim. of pusus a little boy; cf. puer a boy, E. puerile) + animus the mind: cf. F. pusillanime. See {Animosity}.] 1. Destitute of a manly or courageous strength and firmness of mind; of … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pusillanimous — index caitiff, recreant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
pusillanimous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking courage; timid. DERIVATIVES pusillanimity noun. ORIGIN from Latin pusillus very small + animus mind … English terms dictionary
pusillanimous — [pyo͞o΄si lan′ə məs] adj. [LL(Ec) pusillanimis < L pusillus, tiny (dim. of pusus, little boy, akin to puer: see PUERILE) + animus, the mind (see ANIMAL) + OUS] 1. timid, cowardly, or irresolute; fainthearted 2. proceeding from or showing a… … English World dictionary
pusillanimous — [[t]pju͟ːsɪlæ̱nɪməs[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you say that someone is pusillanimous, you mean that they are timid or afraid. [FORMAL] The authorities have been too pusillanimous in merely condemning the violence. Syn: cowardly Ant: brave … English dictionary
pusillanimous — adjective /pjuːsɪlˈænɪmʊs,pjuːsəlˈænəmʊs/ Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity The soldier deserted his troop in a pusillanimous manner. See Also: pusillanimously, pusillanimousness … Wiktionary
pusillanimous — [16] Pusillanimous means etymologically ‘tiny spirited’. It comes from late Latin pūsillanimis, a compound adjective formed from pūsillus ‘very small or weak’ (a descendant of the same base as produced Latin puer ‘child, boy’, source of English… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
pusillanimous — adjective with the tough issues facing this city, the last thing we need is another pusillanimous mayor Syn: timid, timorous, cowardly, fearful, faint hearted, lily livered, spineless, craven, shrinking; informal chicken, gutless, wimpy, wimpish … Thesaurus of popular words
pusillanimous — [16] Pusillanimous means etymologically ‘tiny spirited’. It comes from late Latin pūsillanimis, a compound adjective formed from pūsillus ‘very small or weak’ (a descendant of the same base as produced Latin puer ‘child, boy’, source of English… … Word origins
pusillanimous — adjective Etymology: Late Latin pusillanimis, from Latin pusillus very small (diminutive of pusus boy) + animus spirit; perhaps akin to Latin puer child more at puerile, animate Date: 1586 lacking courage and resolution ; marked by contemptible… … New Collegiate Dictionary
