genuflect
[ jen-yoo-flekt ]
/ ˈdʒɛn yʊˌflɛkt /
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verb (used without object)
to bend the knee or touch one knee to the floor in reverence or worship.
to express a servile attitude.
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Origin of genuflect
1620–30; <Medieval Latin genūflectere to bend the knee, equivalent to Latin genū-, stem of genuknee + flectere to bend
OTHER WORDS FROM genuflect
gen·u·flec·tor, nounWords nearby genuflect
gentry, gents', genu, genual, genucubital position, genuflect, genuflection, genuine, genuine article, genuinely, gen up
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for genuflect
British Dictionary definitions for genuflect
genuflect
/ (ˈdʒɛnjʊˌflɛkt) /
verb (intr)
to act in a servile or deferential manner
RC Church to bend one or both knees as a sign of reverence, esp when passing before the Blessed Sacrament
Derived forms of genuflect
genuflection or esp British genuflexion, noungenuflector, nounWord Origin for genuflect
C17: from Medieval Latin genūflectere, from Latin genu knee + flectere to bend
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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