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pusillanimous

1. Destitute of a manly or courageous strength and firmness of mind; of weak spirit; mean-spirited; spiritless; cowardly; said of persons, as, a pussillanimous prince.

2. Evincing, or characterised by, weakness of mind, and want of courage; feeble; as, pusillanimous counsels. A low and pusillanimous spirit.

Synonym: Cowardly, dastardly, mean-spirited, fainthearted, timid, weak, feeble.

Origin: L. Pusillannimis; pusillus very little (dim. Of pusus a little boy; cf. Puer a boy, E. Puerile) _ animus the mind: cf. F. Pusillanime. See Animosity.