verb

• (intransitive) To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
  "He'd be useless in war. He'd just cower in his bunker until the enemy came in and shot him, or until the war was over."
• (intransitive, archaic) To crouch in general.
  "Some sterner virtues o’er the mountain’s breast May sit, like falcons, cowering on the nest"
• (transitive) To cause to cower; to frighten into submission.
  "This done, their doubts will vanish, and they will stand confronted by an object lesson which must have the effect either to arouse them to a determination to banish despotism from the land, or cower them into submission and servitude."
• (intransitive, figuratively) To be a coward; to hide away or refuse to face opposition due to fear.

verb

• (obsolete, transitive) To cherish with care.