genuflect

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Pronunciation

• (RP, America) IPA: /ˈdʒɛn.jʊ.flɛkt/

Verb

genuflect (genuflects, present participle genuflecting; past and past participle genuflected)

1. (intransitive, archaic) To bend the knee, as in servitude.
2. (intransitive) To briefly touch one knee to the ground, typically associated with religious worship.
   • 1913, Adrian Fortescue, Catholic Encyclopedia, "Gospel in the Liturgy"

     At high Mass the deacon and subdeacon stand on either side, genuflect too, and answer.

   • 1965, Tom Lehrer, The Vatican Rag

     First you get down on your knees, fiddle with your rosaries, / Bow your head with great respect and genuflect, genuflect, genuflect.

3. (intransitive, figurative) To behave in a servile manner; to grovel.

Related terms

• genuflection
• genuflector

Translations

• French: génuflexion, génuflexer, génuflexionner
• German: niederknien
• Italian: (active intransitive) genuflettere
• Portuguese: genuflectir
• Russian: преклоня́ть колено
• Spanish: doblar la rodilla, arrodillarse

Translations

• French: génuflexion
• Italian: (passive intransitive) essere genuflesso, (reflexive) genuflettersi
• Russian: пресмыка́ться

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