释义 |
grovel
grov·el G0287700 (grŏv′əl, grŭv′-)intr.v. grov·eled, grov·el·ing, grov·els also grov·elled or grov·el·ling 1. To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.2. To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.3. To give oneself over to base pleasures: "Have we not groveled here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?" (Walt Whitman). [Back-formation from obsolete groveling, prone, face downward, from Middle English : (on) grufe, face downwards (from Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa, to grovel) + -ling, adv. suff.; see -ling2.] grov′el·er n.grovel (ˈɡrɒvəl) vb (intr) , -els, -elling or -elled, -els, -eling or -eled1. to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect2. to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility3. (often foll by in) to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)[C16: back formation from obsolete groveling (adv), from Middle English on grufe on the face, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa prone position; see -ling2] ˈgroveller, ˈgroveler n ˈgrovelling, ˈgroveling n, adj ˈgrovellingly, ˈgrovelingly advgrov•el (ˈgrɒv əl, ˈgrʌv-) v.i. -eled, -el•ing (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling. 1. to humble oneself or act in an abject manner. 2. to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate in abject humility, fear, etc. 3. to take pleasure in base things. [1585–95; back formation from obsolete groveling (adv.) = obsolete grufe face down (< Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling2] grov′el•er, esp. Brit., grov′el•ler, n. grovel, groveling - Grovel is a back-formation from groveling—which first meant "face downward in a prone or prostrate position."See also related terms for prone.grovel Past participle: grovelled Gerund: grovelling
Present |
---|
I grovel | you grovel | he/she/it grovels | we grovel | you grovel | they grovel |
Preterite |
---|
I grovelled | you grovelled | he/she/it grovelled | we grovelled | you grovelled | they grovelled |
Present Continuous |
---|
I am grovelling | you are grovelling | he/she/it is grovelling | we are grovelling | you are grovelling | they are grovelling |
Present Perfect |
---|
I have grovelled | you have grovelled | he/she/it has grovelled | we have grovelled | you have grovelled | they have grovelled |
Past Continuous |
---|
I was grovelling | you were grovelling | he/she/it was grovelling | we were grovelling | you were grovelling | they were grovelling |
Past Perfect |
---|
I had grovelled | you had grovelled | he/she/it had grovelled | we had grovelled | you had grovelled | they had grovelled |
Future |
---|
I will grovel | you will grovel | he/she/it will grovel | we will grovel | you will grovel | they will grovel |
Future Perfect |
---|
I will have grovelled | you will have grovelled | he/she/it will have grovelled | we will have grovelled | you will have grovelled | they will have grovelled |
Future Continuous |
---|
I will be grovelling | you will be grovelling | he/she/it will be grovelling | we will be grovelling | you will be grovelling | they will be grovelling |
Present Perfect Continuous |
---|
I have been grovelling | you have been grovelling | he/she/it has been grovelling | we have been grovelling | you have been grovelling | they have been grovelling |
Future Perfect Continuous |
---|
I will have been grovelling | you will have been grovelling | he/she/it will have been grovelling | we will have been grovelling | you will have been grovelling | they will have been grovelling |
Past Perfect Continuous |
---|
I had been grovelling | you had been grovelling | he/she/it had been grovelling | we had been grovelling | you had been grovelling | they had been grovelling |
Conditional |
---|
I would grovel | you would grovel | he/she/it would grovel | we would grovel | you would grovel | they would grovel |
Past Conditional |
---|
I would have grovelled | you would have grovelled | he/she/it would have grovelled | we would have grovelled | you would have grovelled | they would have grovelled | ThesaurusVerb | 1. | grovel - show submission or fearfawn, cringe, cower, crawl, creepbend, flex - form a curve; "The stick does not bend" |
grovelverb1. humble yourself, creep, crawl, flatter, fawn, pander, cower, toady, kowtow, brown-nose (taboo slang), bow and scrape, kiss ass (taboo slang), lick someone's boots, lick someone's arse (taboo slang), demean yourself, abase yourself I refuse to grovel to anybody. humble yourself be proud, intimidate, hold your head high, domineer2. crawl, crouch, go on hands and knees, go on all fours We grovelled around on our knees, hunting for the key.grovelverbTo support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior:bootlick, cringe, fawn, kowtow, slaver, toady, truckle.Informal: apple-polish, brownnose, cotton.Slang: suck up.Idioms: curry favor, dance attendance, kiss someone's feet, lick someone's boots.Translationsgrovel (ˈgrovl) – past tense, past participle ˈgrovelled , (American) ˈgroveled – verb to make oneself (too) humble. He grovelled before his leader. 卑躬屈膝 卑躬屈膝grovel
grovelTo interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner. Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all. Come, we must grovel before the king.grovel before (someone)To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner. The phrase can also specifically refer to the act of prostration. Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel before her—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all. Get down and grovel before your king.See also: before, grovelgrovel in (something)1. To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner, usually with a particular aim (indicated after "in"). Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel in apology—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all.2. To show one's respect or deference by lying down on the ground in some specific substance. I won't grovel in filth for anyone!See also: grovelgrovel about in (something)To show one's respect or deference by lying down on the ground in some specific substance. I won't grovel about in filth for anyone!See also: grovelgrovel to (someone)To interact with someone in an overtly agreeable or deferential manner. It can also refer specifically to the act of kneeling or prostration. Well, if your mother's mad at me, I guess I'm going to have to grovel to her—we want this family dinner to be pleasant, after all. Get down and grovel to your king!See also: grovelgrovel (about) in somethingto wallow around in the dirt, etc., while prostrating oneself. The poor fellow groveled about in the mud, trying to keep from being beaten. Why are you there, groveling in the dust?See also: grovelgrovel before someone or somethingto prostrate oneself before someone or something. The prisoner groveled before his accusers. The peasant groveled before the lord of the manor.See also: before, grovelgrovel to someoneto kneel in deference to someone; to kowtow to someone. You don't have to grovel to me! I refuse to grovel to anyone.See also: grovelgrovel (ˈgrɑvlæ) in. to fondle or pet. They spent the whole time in the backseat groveling. grovel
grovel (1)To work interminably and without apparent progress. Oftenused transitively with "over" or "through". "The filescavenger has been groveling through the /usr directories for10 minutes now." Compare grind and crunch. Emphaticform: "grovel obscenely".grovel (2)To examine minutely or in complete detail. "The compilergrovels over the entire source program before beginning totranslate it." "I grovelled through all the documentation,but I still couldn't find the command I wanted."grovel Related to grovel: GravolSynonyms for grovelverb humble yourselfSynonyms- humble yourself
- creep
- crawl
- flatter
- fawn
- pander
- cower
- toady
- kowtow
- brown-nose
- bow and scrape
- kiss ass
- lick someone's boots
- lick someone's arse
- demean yourself
- abase yourself
Antonyms- be proud
- intimidate
- hold your head high
- domineer
verb crawlSynonyms- crawl
- crouch
- go on hands and knees
- go on all fours
Synonyms for grovelverb to support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superiorSynonyms- bootlick
- cringe
- fawn
- kowtow
- slaver
- toady
- truckle
- apple-polish
- brownnose
- cotton
- suck up
Synonyms for grovelverb show submission or fearSynonyms- fawn
- cringe
- cower
- crawl
- creep
Related Words |