different between pusillanimous vs white-livered

English

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

pusillanimous (comparative more pusillanimous, superlative most pusillanimous)

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.

white-livered (comparative more white-livered, superlative most white-livered) (archaic)

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