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covardia

nounfeminine/kuvɐɾˈdiɐ/medium

co·var·di·a

Definition

Lack of courage; behavior typical of someone who is afraid and avoids danger or responsibility.
Attacks on defenseless people are an act of extreme cowardice.
His cowardice prevented him from defending his colleague against injustice.
Common collocations
act of cowardicesheer cowardiceto accuse of cowardice

Etymology

Do francês 'cowardise', por sua vez do latim vulgar '*covardia', derivado de 'covarde' (do latim 'cauda', 'cauda', pela ideia de 'aquele que foge com a cauda entre as pernas').

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