Cowardly adv.

[f. COWARD a. + -LY². It occurs much earlier than prec.] Like a coward; with cowardice or base avoidance of danger.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1631. I fayn wolde Wyt þe wytte of þe wryt, þat on þe wowe clyues. For alle calde clerkes han cowwardely fayled.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 379. He … cowerdly consentid to his foly.

a. 1450.  Le Morte Arth., 379. Yit had I levir do what I may Than here to dye thus cowerdelye.

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 49. Thay … quha dois falslie deny, or cowartlie impugne this chair of peter.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. xv. 56. I … do now not basely dye, Not Cowardly put off my Helmet.

1699.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 529. Captain Hodgson’s man was cowardly run through the back.

a. 1703.  Burkitt, On N. T., Matt. xxviii. 10. Those apostate apostles, that cowardly left me in my danger.

1890.  Besant, Demoniac, vi. 109. A … devil to whom you surrender basely and cowardly without a blow.