Cowering

ppl. a. [f. prec. + -ING².] That cowers: see the verb.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 35. Hir colde and cowherand syer.

1813.  Hogg, Queen’s Wake, 73. Nowther the roe, nor the rein-deir dun, The hinde nor the couryng grew.

1860.  Trench, Serm. Westm. Abbey, ix. 96. A servile band of cowering slaves.

  Hence Coweringly adv., in a cowering manner.

1821.  Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Wallace, lxxiii. Which coweringly ye sought to shun.

1868.  G. Macdonald, R. Falconer, I. 70. ‘I’ll never luik at it’ … answered Shargar, coweringly.