grovelv.
/ˈɡrɒv(ə)l/ 1.
a. intransitive. To lie prone or with the face downwards; to move with the body prostrate upon the ground; to grovel in the dust or dirt (figurative): to humble oneself, perform an act of humiliation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of lying down or reclining > lie down or recline [verb (intransitive)] > prostrate or face down
grovela1616
nuddle1631
the mind > emotion > humility > self-abasement > humble oneself [verb (intransitive)]
to eat one's words1571
humblea1592
to eat (any one's) toads1815
to eat humble pie1830
to grovel in the dust or dirt1865
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. ii. 9 Gaze on, and grouell on thy face. View more context for this quotation
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 8 They ceremoniously kneele and bow vnto [idols], groueling then vpon the Earth, they throw dust on their faces.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 141 Old Warriors turn'd Thir plated backs under his heel; Or grovling soild thir crested helmets in the dust. View more context for this quotation
1700 J. Addison Milton's Stile Imitated iii, in Misc. Wks. (1726) I. 58 Thunder-struck Enceladus Groveling beneath the incumbent mountain's weight Lyes stretch'd supine.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 575 Close to his breast she grovels on the ground.
1839 Tennyson in Mem. (1897) I. 171 She was grovelling on the floor in an extremity of fear.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. xiv. 125 Am I to grovel in the dust for him to walk over?
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset II. liii. 105 She is not such a paragon that a man should condescend to grovel in the dirt for her.
1882 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. II. 211 The Parliament..grovelled in the dust at the Cardinal's feet.
b. figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > be servile [verb (intransitive)]
fawnc1325
crouch1528
jouk1573
crawl1576
creep1581
spaniel1599
grovel1605
spanielize1641
cringec1660
to lick the ground1667
truckle1680
to kiss (a person's) arse, behind, bum1705
toad-eat1766
snool1786
to eat (any one's) toads1788
kowtow1826
sidle1828
toady1861
to knock head1876
ass-lick1937
1605 Bp. J. Hall Medit. & Vowes I. §33 Euery worldling is an hypocrite, for while his face naturally lookes vpward..his hart grouels beneath on the earth.
1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. xxix. 277 Through surfeiting we live groveling and groping after base delights, as Hoggs do for Acornes.
1707 I. Watts Hymns & Spiritual Songs ii. 109 Look, how we grovel here below.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 147. ⁋9 A wretch doomed to grovel in obscurity for want of assurance.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. viii. 272 The vindictive Laud grovelled in a meaner and more cruel victory.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 280 The philosophy of Berkeley..is still grovelling on the level of sense.
c. quasi-transitive with out.
ΚΠ
1790 By-stander 7 If neglected, they grovel out their day, and vanish at night like a vapour.
2. causal. To lay prone on the ground. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of lying down or reclining > lie down or recline [verb (transitive)] > prone on the ground
grovel1843
1843 E. Jones Stud. Sensation & Event 25 [He] grovelleth on the ground His naked flesh.
Derivatives
ˈgrovel n. the action of grovelling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > servility > [noun]
fawninga1350
submission?a1439
overlowness1496
servility1573
servilenessa1594
obsequency1595
obsequiousness1613
cringing1617
slavishnessa1620
vernility1623
servulating1637
suppleness1638
sneakinga1657
subserviency1669
fawningness1672
subservience1680
cringingness1695
truckling1820
obsequience1830
flunkeyism1831
servilism1831
spanielship1832
toadyism1840
flunkeydom1850
oleaginousness1853
vassalism1854
toadying1863
grovel1892
obsequity1892
crawlsomeness1900
serfishness1906
oleosity?1920
ass-kissing1936
1892 Black & White 19 Mar. 366/1 The only possible attitude is a grovel.
ˈgrovelled adj. humiliated, debased.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > [adjective]
dejectc1528
broken1535
abased1554
come1564
downfallen1575
snubbed1583
crestfallen1589
humiliate1593
plume-plucked1597
low-broughta1599
chop-fallen1604
chap-fallen1608
dejected1608
humbleda1616
unprided1628
diminished1667
mortified1710
small1771
humiliated1782
squelched1837
grovelleda1845
sat-upon1873
comedown1886
deflated1894
zapped1962
a1845 T. Hood Lamia i, in W. Jerdan Autobiogr. (1852) I. 254 If you could see How this poor figure once was marr'd and vilified, How grovell'd and debased.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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