Genuflect

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈdÊ’É›n.jÊŠ.flÉ›kt/

Origin

From around 1620–1630 from Medieval Latin genūflectō ("I bend the knee") equivalent to the Latin genū ("knee") + flectō ("to bend#Verb").

Full definition of genuflect

Verb

1. (intransitive) To bend the knee, as in servitude or worship
2. (intransitive) To behave in a servile manner; to grovel.

Related terms

• genuflection
• genuflector