white-livered

adjective

white-liv·​ered ˈ(h)wīt-ˈli-vərd How to pronounce white-livered (audio)
: pusillanimous, lily-livered

Word History

Etymology

from the former belief that the choleric temperament depends on the body's producing large quantities of yellow bile

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white-livered was in 1546

Rhymes for white-livered

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Browse Nearby Words

whitelist
white-livered
white liverwort
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Cite this Entry

“White-livered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white-livered. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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