White-livered

White-livered
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. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • white-livered — [hwīt′liv΄ərd, wīt′liv΄ərd] adj. cowardly; craven …   English World dictionary

  • 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

  • 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

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