dastardize

English

Alternative forms

dastardise

Etymology

From dastard +‎ -ize.

Verb

dastardize (third-person singular simple present dastardizes, present participle dastardizing, simple past and past participle dastardized)

1. To make cowardly; to intimidate or weaken the spirits of.
   • 1690, [John] Dryden, Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: […], London: […] Jo. Hindmarsh, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):

     dastardize my courage

References

• “dastardize”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.