different between pusillanimous vs retiring

English

Etymology

Derived from Latin pusillanimis (“faint-hearted, timid”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pju?s?l?æn?m?s/, /pju?s?l?æn?m?s/
• Rhymes: -æn?m?s

Adjective

pusillanimous (comparative more pusillanimous, superlative most pusillanimous)

1. Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity. [from 16th c.]

   The soldier deserted his troop in a pusillanimous manner.

   • 1882 — Mark Twain, On the Decay of the Art of Lying [1].

     Therefore, the wise thing is for us diligently to train ourselves to lie thoughtfully, judiciously; to lie with a good object, and not an evil one; to lie for others' advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably, humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously; to lie gracefully and graciously, not awkwardly and clumsily; to lie firmly, frankly, squarely, with head erect, not haltingly, tortuously, with pusillanimous mien, as being ashamed of our high calling.

Related terms

• pusillanimously
• pusillanimousness
• pusillanimity

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???ta?(?)???/
• Rhymes: -a?????

Adjective

retiring

1. introverted, liking privacy and seclusion.
   • 1911, Theodore Dreiser, Jennie Gerhardt, Chapter LX:

     Lester was in the thick of social and commercial affairs; he walked in paths to which Jennie's retiring soul had never aspired.

Translations

Verb

retiring

1. present participle of retire

   Today is the party for our retiring co-workers.

Noun

retiring (plural retirings)

1. retirement
   • 1625, Francis Bacon, Apophthegms

     One day of those his retirings ^[sic], giving out that he was sick, his father Antigonus came on the sudden to visit him, and met a fair dainty youth coming out of his chamber.