- white-livered
- adjective Etymology: from the former belief that the choleric temperament depends on the body's producing large quantities of yellow bile Date: 1549 pusillanimous, lily-livered
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
white-livered
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White-livered — White liv ered, a. Having a pale look; feeble; hence, cowardly; pusillanimous; dastardly. Syn: lily livered. [1913 Webster] They must not be milksops, nor white livered knights. Latimer. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
white-livered — [hwīt′liv΄ərd, wīt′liv΄ərd] adj. cowardly; craven … English World dictionary
white-livered — /hwuyt liv euhrd, wuyt /, adj. 1. lacking courage; cowardly; lily livered. 2. lacking in vitality or spirit; pale; unhealthy. [1540 50] * * * … Universalium
white-livered — adjective easily frightened • Syn: ↑chicken, ↑chickenhearted, ↑lily livered, ↑yellow, ↑yellow bellied • Similar to: ↑cowardly, ↑fearful … Useful english dictionary
white-livered — /waɪt ˈlɪvəd/ (say wuyt livuhd) adjective 1. pale or unhealthy. 2. cowardly …
-livered — combining form Eg white livered or lily livered (literally, having a pallid, blood starved liver), cowardly • • • Main Entry: ↑liver * * * livered, combining form. 1. having a liver or livers: »Fat livered codfish = codfish that have fat livers.… … Useful english dictionary
Livered — Liv ered (l[i^]v [ e]rd), a. Having (such) a liver; used in composition; as, white livered. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
white-liv|ered — «HWYT LIHV uhrd», adjective. 1. cowardly. SYNONYM(S): lily livered. 2. pale; unhealthy looking; wan … Useful english dictionary
lily-livered — adjective easily frightened • Syn: ↑chicken, ↑chickenhearted, ↑white livered, ↑yellow, ↑yellow bellied • Similar to: ↑cowardly, ↑fearful … Useful english dictionary
Lily-livered — Lil y liv ered (l[i^]l [y^] l[i^]v [ e]rd), a. White livered; cowardly. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
