genuflect

verb gen·u·flect \ ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of genuflect

intransitive verb

1 a : to bend the knee

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

genuflected before the altar

2 : to be humbly obedient or respectful

bureaucrats who genuflect before the governor

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genuflection

play \ˌjen-yə-ˈflek-shən\ noun

See genuflect defined for English-language learners

See genuflect defined for kids

genuflect was our Word of the Day on 02/28/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of genuflect in a Sentence

They genuflected before the altar in the church.

Recent Examples of genuflect from the Web

After the match, Nakamura kneeled as if to genuflect before the champ, but then turned heel, hitting Styles with a low blow and leaving him laying.

— jay reddick, OrlandoSentinel.com, "WrestleMania 34 recap: Lesnar beats Reigns; Rousey, Styles win," 9 Apr. 2018
But this time, instead of letting politicians settle into the same old pattern of actively doing nothing and genuflecting to the National Rifle Association, fresh-faced young people have been relentlessly demanding more gun control.

— the sacramento bee editorial board, sacbee, "Schools worried about the National School Walkout are missing the point of democracy | The Sacramento Bee," 13 Mar. 2018
Ask the University of Cincinnati or the legendary Big East schools that genuflect to Xavier: Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette and DePaul.

— byron mccauley, Cincinnati.com, "Byron McCauley: Tiny Xavier, a big basketball power, takes its turn on a larger stage," 6 Mar. 2018
For decades, the Republican Party has genuflected at the altar of small government.

— jennifer rubin, Anchorage Daily News, "Forget about small government. Republicans support big debt.," 10 Feb. 2018
The sisters genuflect before an ornate altar and then take a seat in their individual choir stalls.

— matthew vann, NBC News, "Dominican Sisters of Mary ‘bring Heaven’ to Earth through song," 23 Dec. 2017
The fans didn’t show, the politicians didn’t genuflect and the sponsors didn’t pay.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Crew's Fabric is Interwoven With Columbus; If Precourt Can't See That, He Should Sell, Not Move," 18 Oct. 2017
By simply genuflecting, Colin Kaepernick has become the most important person of the 21st Century. ...

— nick canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Time-challenged NFL coaches need to take stock of the clock," 23 Sep. 2017
We court Google Fiber, genuflect before National Public Radio, open high-end restaurants at an absurd rate, and have more Catholic churches than any two actual Southern states combined.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Is Louisville the North or the South? Let's decide this once and for all," 31 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'genuflect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Genuflect is derived from Late Latin genuflectere, formed from the noun "genu" ("knee") and the verb "flectere" ("to bend"). "Flectere" is an ancestor of a number of common verbs in English, such as "reflect" ("to throw back light or sound") and "deflect" ("to turn aside"). By comparison "genu" sees little use in English, but it did give us "geniculate," a word often used in scientific contexts to mean "bent abruptly at an angle like a bent knee." Despite the resemblance, words such as "genius" and "genuine" are not related to "genuflect"; instead, they are of a family that includes the Latin verb gignere, meaning "to beget."

Origin and Etymology of genuflect

Late Latin genuflectere, from Latin genu knee + flectere to bend — more at ¹knee

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1630

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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GENUFLECT Defined for English Language Learners

genuflect

verb

Definition of genuflect for English Language Learners

: to kneel on one knee and then rise again as an act of respect
: to obey someone with power in a way that is seen as weak

GENUFLECT Defined for Kids

genuflect

verb gen·u·flect \ ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt \

Definition of genuflect for Students

genuflected; genuflecting

: to kneel on one knee and rise again as an act of deep respect (as in a church)

Learn More about genuflect

See words that rhyme with genuflect Spanish Central: Translation of genuflect Nglish: Translation of genuflect for Spanish speakers

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genuflect

Definition of genuflect

genuflection

genuflect was our Word of the Day on 02/28/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of genuflect in a Sentence

Recent Examples of genuflect from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of genuflect

GENUFLECT Defined for English Language Learners

genuflect

Definition of genuflect for English Language Learners

GENUFLECT Defined for Kids

genuflect

Definition of genuflect for Students

Learn More about genuflect

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genuflect

Definition of genuflect

genuflection

genuflect was our Word of the Day on 02/28/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of genuflect in a Sentence

Recent Examples of genuflect from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of genuflect

GENUFLECT Defined for English Language Learners

genuflect

Definition of genuflect for English Language Learners

GENUFLECT Defined for Kids

genuflect

Definition of genuflect for Students

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