genuflect

verb

gen·u·flect ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt How to pronounce genuflect (audio)

genuflected; genuflecting; genuflects

intransitive verb

: to bend the knee

: to touch the knee to the floor or ground especially in worship

genuflected before the altar

: to be humbly obedient or respectful

bureaucrats who genuflect before the governor

genuflection

ˌjen-yə-ˈflek-shən How to pronounce genuflect (audio)

noun

Did you know?

Genuflect is derived from the Late Latin genuflectere, formed from the noun genu ("knee") and the verb flectere ("to bend"). Flectere appears in a number of our more common verbs, such as reflect ("to bend or throw back," as light) and deflect ("to turn aside"). By comparison genu sees little use in English, but it did give us geniculate, a word often used in scientific contexts to mean "bent abruptly at an angle like a bent knee." Despite the resemblance, words such as genius and genuine are not related to genuflect; instead, they are of a family that includes the Latin verb gignere, meaning "to beget."

Example Sentences

They genuflected before the altar in the church.

Recent Examples on the Web The current glimmers of dissent among the Republican rank and file tend to be overshadowed by the religious passion with which most Republican officeholders genuflect in Trump’s direction.

Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 24 May 2022 Texas is changing, in ways that Cornyn is wise to genuflect toward, and this election has the look of a blue wave.

Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2020 They're used to everybody genuflecting in their presence.

Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 29 May 2020 Patrick Curran hopes customers genuflect over the food, too.

Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2020 This wasn't a mere victory lap — although John relished the opportunity to stand up from his piano and genuflect gleefully after practically every song.

Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Oct. 2019 With the largest population of Ethiopian immigrants to the United States living in Washington, D.C., strangers on the street there sometimes look at him, recognize the late emperor, and reflexively genuflect in some way.

Michael Joseph Gross, Vanities, 27 Apr. 2018 See More

单词	genuflecting
释义	genuflect verb gen·u·flect ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt genuflected; genuflecting; genuflects intransitive verb 1 a : to bend the knee b : to touch the knee to the floor or ground especially in worship genuflected before the altar 2 : to be humbly obedient or respectful bureaucrats who genuflect before the governor genuflection ˌjen-yə-ˈflek-shən noun Did you know? Genuflect is derived from the Late Latin genuflectere, formed from the noun genu ("knee") and the verb flectere ("to bend"). Flectere appears in a number of our more common verbs, such as reflect ("to bend or throw back," as light) and deflect ("to turn aside"). By comparison genu sees little use in English, but it did give us geniculate, a word often used in scientific contexts to mean "bent abruptly at an angle like a bent knee." Despite the resemblance, words such as genius and genuine are not related to genuflect; instead, they are of a family that includes the Latin verb gignere, meaning "to beget." Example Sentences They genuflected before the altar in the church. Recent Examples on the Web The current glimmers of dissent among the Republican rank and file tend to be overshadowed by the religious passion with which most Republican officeholders genuflect in Trump’s direction. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 24 May 2022 Texas is changing, in ways that Cornyn is wise to genuflect toward, and this election has the look of a blue wave. Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2020 They're used to everybody genuflecting in their presence. Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 29 May 2020 Patrick Curran hopes customers genuflect over the food, too. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2020 This wasn't a mere victory lap — although John relished the opportunity to stand up from his piano and genuflect gleefully after practically every song. Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Oct. 2019 With the largest population of Ethiopian immigrants to the United States living in Washington, D.C., strangers on the street there sometimes look at him, recognize the late emperor, and reflexively genuflect in some way. Michael Joseph Gross, Vanities, 27 Apr. 2018 See More Word History Etymology Late Latin genuflectere, from Latin genu knee + flectere to bend — more at knee entry 1 First Known Use 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition genuflect verb gen·u·flect ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt genuflected; genuflecting : to kneel on one knee and rise again as an act of deep respect (as in a church) genuflecting adjective as in kowtowing Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance kowtowing fawning groveling toadying obsequious servile sycophantic grovelling worshipful venerating reverent reverential subservient hagiographic hagiographical deferential courteous dutiful polite respectful civil gracious deferent regardful kid-glove kid-gloved Antonyms & Near Antonyms insulting disrespectful offensive demeaning abusive disparaging contemptuous scornful irreverent impudent derogatory undutiful belittling discourteous depreciatory depreciative insolent rude uncivil See More
随便看	replevisable replevy replevying repliant replica replica grating replicabilities replicability replicable replicas replicase replicases replicate replicated replicates replicatile replicating replication replications replicative replicators replicon replicons replied replier

genuflect

verb

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

adjective