genuflect

verb

gen·u·flect | \ ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt

genuflected; genuflecting; genuflects

Definition of genuflect

intransitive verb

1a : 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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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."

Examples of genuflect in a Sentence

They genuflected before the altar in the church.

Recent Examples on the Web

Whatever your preference, be sure to genuflect at the altar of canned and pickled vegetables upstairs in backlit mason jars. — Stephanie Burt, Condé Nast Traveler, "28 Best Restaurants in Charleston," 2 May 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," 14 Mar. 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," 14 Mar. 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," 14 Mar. 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," 14 Mar. 2018 The relentless pace of war allows no time to grieve or genuflect. — Justin Barrasso, SI.com, "United States War Veterans Find Refuge, Second Chance At Life In Wrestling Ring," 2 Apr. 2018 In a photo from the event, Rippon is seen genuflecting before the Drag Race host during the ball. — Stephen Daw, Billboard, "Adam Rippon Kneeled Before His Queen RuPaul & Gave His Mom a Shout-Out at the Time 100 Gala," 25 Apr. 2018 With the largest population of Ethiopian immigrants to the United States living in Washington, D.C., strangers on the street there sometimes look at him, recognize the late emperor, and reflexively genuflect in some way. — Michael Joseph Gross, Vanities, "“There’s Nothing Wrong with Falling from Grace”: The Global Network of Monarchists Helping Deposed Kings and Queens," 27 Apr. 2018

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.