pusillanimity

Pusillanimity is a noun that denotes a lack of courage or resolution, often described as timidity or cowardice. In moral and rhetorical contexts, it connotes a small-minded or cowardly reluctance to act in the face of danger, difficulty, or moral obligation. The term is commonly used pejoratively to criticize indecisiveness or fearfulness that prevents rightful action.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin pusillanimus, meaning “small-souled,” from pusillus, “very small,” and animus, “mind” or “spirit.” In English, pusillanimity and the related adjective pusillanimous appear from early modern periods, and the concept has featured in classical and later literature as a contrast to magnanimity or courage. In philosophical and moral discussions, it is used to describe character traits viewed as deficient in spirit or resolve.

Usage notes: pusillanimity is a value-laden judgment rather than a technical clinical term. It can describe individual hesitation, political timidity, or collective decisions deemed cowardly. Related terms include timidity, faint-heartedness, and cowardice; antonyms include courage, bravery, and intrepidity. While now relatively rare in everyday speech, the term persists in historical, literary, and rhetorical contexts to critique a lack of boldness or moral nerve.