Dictionary Definition

pusillanimous adj : lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful [syn: poor-spirited, unmanly]

User Contributed Dictionary

Derived from pusillus ("very small") + animus ("spirit")

1882 — Mark Twain, On the Decay of the Art of Lying http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2572/2572.txt.

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.