Pusillanimity
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /pjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪti/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Pusillanimity is a noun meaning The quality or state of being pusillanimous; the vice of being timid and cowardly, and thus not living up to one's full potential; pusillanimousness.
Meaning
The quality or state of being pusillanimous; the vice of being timid and cowardly, and thus not living up to one's full potential; pusillanimousness.
Example Sentences
their hectorings against an absent enemy, and their pusillanimity on his approach
[…] Puſillanimity; by vvhich that ſeems great to him, vvhich other men think a trifle: and vvhatſoever is nevv, or great, and therefore thought fit to be told, vvithdravves a man by degrees from the intended vvay of his diſcourſe.
Instead of being confined within the walls of fortified cities, which the Romans considered as the refuge of weakness or pusillanimity, the legions were encamped on the banks of the great rivers, and along the frontiers of the barbarians.
What I did through indolence and in some degree, I confess, through pusillanimity, I had a fancy to make it appear (by dint of much whistling, as it were, and easy thrusting of my hands into my pocket) that I did through a sort of generous condescension.
Word Forms
- pusillanimities
Synonyms for pusillanimity
Depending on context, synonyms include pusillanimousness.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include pusillanimousness, puniness, punyism, pessimality, punyness, wimpishness.
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Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.