Craven
Craven (kr?"v'n) , adjective
[Old English cravant, cravaunde, Old French cravant{not transcribed} struck down, past participle of cravanter, crevanter, to break, crush, strike down, from an assumed Late Latin crepantare, from Latin crepans, present participle of crepare to break, crack, rattle. Compare Crevice, Crepitate.]
Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless.
His craven heart.
The poor craven bridegroom said never a word.
In craven fear of the sarcasm of Dorset.
Craven , noun
[Formerly written also cravant and cravent.]
A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See Recreant, n.
King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
Fluellen. He is a craven and a villain else.
Craven (-v'nd) , transitive verb
To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly. [Obsolete]
There is a prohibition so divine,
That cravens my weak hand.