genuflect
To briefly enter a position that touches one knee to the ground in a manner that is…To briefly enter a position that touches one knee to the ground in a manner that is typically associated with formal homage or religious worship.
» The knight should genuflect under the king's knife to receive the sir status.
Meaning
3 senses(intransitive)To briefly enter a position that touches one knee to the ground in a manner that is typically associated with formal homage or religious worship.
(figuratively, intransitive)To behave in a servile manner; to grovel.
пресмыка́тьсяpresmykátʹsja, соверша́ть коленопреклоне́ниеsoveršátʹ kolenopreklonénije, соверши́ть коленопреклоне́ниеsoveršítʹ kolenopreklonénije
bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
(archaic, intransitive)To bend the knee, as in servitude.
niederknien
преклоня́ть коле́на/коле́ниpreklonjátʹ koléna/koléni, преклони́ть коле́на/коле́ниpreklonítʹ koléna/koléni
Examples
1 sentencesThe knight should genuflect under the king's knife to receive the sir status.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 2
Forms
genuflects, genuflecting, genuflected, genuflected| Base form | genuflect · to genuflect |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | genuflects |
| Present participle | genuflecting |
| Past simple | genuflected |
| Past participle | genuflected |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
2 synonymsWord family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle