Main Entry:

¹cringe

Pronunciation:

\ˈkrinj\

Function:

intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

cringed; cring·ing

Etymology:

Middle English crengen; akin to Old English cringan to yield, Middle High German krank weak

Date:

13th century

1 : to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain) 2 : to shrink in fear or servility 3 : to behave in an excessively humble or servile way 4 : to recoil in distaste <Americans cringed…at the use of a term now regarded as a slur — William Safire>

synonyms see fawn

— cring·er noun