Meaning

(intransitive, archaic) To bend the knee, as in servitude..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive, archaic) To bend the knee, as in servitude.
2. (intransitive) To briefly enter a position that touches one knee to the ground in a manner that is typically associated with formal homage or religious worship.
3. (intransitive, figurative) To behave in a servile manner; to grovel.

Example Sentences

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

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

She took the holy water on her fingertips and made the sign of the cross, fleetingly touched her wet fingertips to her parched lips. Candles flickered redly before the saints, the Christ on his cross. Kay genuflected before entering her row and then knelt on the hard wooden rail of the pew to wait for her call to Communion.

Certainly, the megalomaniacs who aim to populate municipal fixtures with registered-trademark logos will expect cities to genuflect at every turn.

Word Forms

• genuflects
• genuflecting
• genuflected

Synonyms for genuflect

Related Words

When Should You Use Genuflect?

Use genuflect when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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