Chickening

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. To cause to become timid or cowardly; to make something less bold or courageous; to reduce the intensity or severity of an action or decision through fear or hesitation
2. To transform into a state of fearfulness or caution; to diminish the assertiveness of someone or something; to soften the approach to a potentially challenging situation due to anxiety
3. To render less brave or daring; to lessen the firmness of a stance or approach in the face of risk; to take a gentler or more cautious route due to trepidation

Etymology: The verb "chickening" comes from the noun "chicken," so its real story starts with the bird. Old English had "ċicen" for a young fowl, and its origin is uncertain: it may go back to a Proto-West Germanic form that also gave Dutch "kuiken" and German "Küken," or it may be built from "cock" with a suffix. Either way, the word was once a plain name for a chick, and the plural "chickens" was itself formed from "chick" plus "-en," the old plural ending that also survives in "oxen" and "children." The sense of timidity is the surprise. In its older use, "chicken" named the young bird and then was extended to a person who was young or inexperienced, so the jump to "lacking courage" is a figurative shift from the animal's perceived helplessness. The verb form "chicken out," meaning to back away from something through fear, then gave rise to "chickening" as a participle and gerund, used for the act of lessening one's daring or taking a cautious route.

Synonyms: cowering, faltering, hesitating

Antonyms: braving, boldness, courage