genuflect

gen·u·flect

verb \ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt\

Definition of GENUFLECT

intransitive verb

1

a : to bend the knee b : to touch the knee to the floor or ground especially in worship

2

: to be servilely obedient or respectful

— gen·u·flec·tion \ˌjen-yə-ˈflek-shən\ noun

Examples of GENUFLECT

1. They genuflected before the altar in the church.

Origin of GENUFLECT

Late Latin genuflectere, from Latin genu knee + flectere to bend — more at knee

First Known Use: 1630

Rhymes with GENUFLECT

acrolect, architect, birth defect, circumspect, deselect, dialect, disaffect, disconnect, disinfect, disrespect, edge effect, grapholect, incorrect, indirect, in effect, intellect, interject, intersect, introject, introspect, lake effect, misdirect, preselect, re-collect, recollect, redirect, reelect, resurrect, retrospect, self-respect, side effect, turtlenecked, vivisect