cower

1. (intransitive) To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.Examples: "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."; "Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire."

2. (intransitive, archaic) To crouch in general.Examples: "Some sterner virtues o’er the mountain’s breast May sit, like falcons, cowering on the nest"; "The mother bird had mov’d not, But cowering o’er her nestlings, Sate confident and fearless, And watch’d the wonted guest."

3. (transitive) To cause to cower; to frighten into submission.Examples: "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."; "My spirit will cower them and make them wish they had never risen up against me."; "A vicious Mafia threat intended to cower him—but the chief doesn't cower."

4. (intransitive, figuratively) To be a coward; to hide away or refuse to face opposition due to fear.