Words / C2

KRAYVN/ˈkreɪvn/

Craven means contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly (literary / formal): a craven silence, craven delay. A coward (already in the dictionary) is the everyday person; brave (already in the dictionary) is the everyday opposite. Intrepid (already in the dictionary) is fearless, sometimes wry; doughty (this batch) is brave and persistent. “We’ll see” is not a spare key.

Meaning

Contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly (literary / formal).

Examples

• “A craven “we’ll see” left the clinic without a spare key.”
• “A coward is the everyday noun (already in B2). Brave is everyday (already in A2). Intrepid is fearless (already in C2). Doughty is brave and persistent (this batch) — the contrast. Caution after a dated rota can be exact. Delay instead of a named post is a hole. Write the key-holder; leave the hush.”

Good to know

Cowardly (literary / formal). Everyday: coward / brave (already in this dictionary). Close: intrepid (already in C2). This batch: doughty (the contrast). Delay ≠ a key.

Near in meaning

cowardly, spineless, fainthearted, timorous

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