5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bow  \Bow\  (b[=o]),  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Bowed};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Bowing}.] 
  To  play  (music)  with  a  bow.  --  v.  i.  To  manage  the  bow. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bowing  \Bow"ing\,  n.  (Mus.) 
  1.  The  act  or  art  of  managing  the  bow  in  playing  on  stringed 
  instruments. 
 
  Bowing  constitutes  a  principal  part  of  the  art  of 
  the  violinist,  the  violist,  etc  --J.  W.  Moore. 
 
  2.  In  hatmaking,  the  act  or  process  of  separating  and 
  distributing  the  fur  or  hair  by  means  of  a  bow,  to  prepare 
  it  for  felting. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bow  \Bow\  (bou),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Bowed};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Bowing}.]  [OE.  bowen,  bogen,  bugen  AS  b[=u]gan  (generally 
  v.  i.);  akin  to  D.  buigen  OHG.  biogan,  G.  biegen  beugen, 
  Icel.  boginn  bent,  beygja  to  bend,  Sw  b["o]ja,  Dan.  b["o]ie, 
  bugne,  Coth.  biugan  also  to  L.  fugere  to  flee,  Gr  ?,  and 
  Skr.  bhuj  to  bend.  [root]88.  Cf  {Fugitive}.] 
  1.  To  cause  to  deviate  from  straightness;  to  bend;  to 
  inflect;  to  make  crooked  or  curved. 
 
  We  bow  things  the  contrary  way  to  make  them  come  to 
  their  natural  straightness.  --Milton. 
 
  The  whole  nation  bowed  their  necks  to  the  worst  kind 
  of  tyranny.  --Prescott. 
 
  2.  To  exercise  powerful  or  controlling  influence  over  to 
  bend,  figuratively;  to  turn;  to  incline. 
 
  Adversities  do  more  bow  men's  minds  to  religion. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  Not  to  bow  and  bias  their  opinions.  --Fuller. 
 
  3.  To  bend  or  incline,  as  the  head  or  body,  in  token  of 
  respect,  gratitude,  assent,  homage,  or  condescension. 
 
  They  came  to  meet  him  and  bowed  themselves  to  the 
  ground  before  him  --2  Kings  ii 
  15. 
 
  4.  To  cause  to  bend  down  to  prostrate;  to  depress,;?  to 
  crush;  to  subdue. 
 
  Whose  heavy  hand  hath  bowed  you  to  the  grave. 
  --Shak. 
 
  5.  To  express  by  bowing;  as  to  bow  one's  thanks. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  bowing 
  adj  :  showing  an  excessively  deferential  manner  [syn:  {bowed}] 
  n  1:  bending  the  head  or  body  or  knee  as  a  sign  of  reverence  or 
  submission  or  shame  [syn:  {bow},  {obeisance}] 
  2:  managing  the  bow  in  playing  a  stringed  instrument;  "the 
  violinist's  bowing  was  excellent" 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Bowing 
  a  mode  of  showing  respect.  Abraham  "bowed  himself  to  the  people 
  of  the  land"  (Gen.  23:7);  so  Jacob  to  Esau  (Gen.  33:3);  and  the 
  brethren  of  Joseph  before  him  as  the  governor  of  the  land  (Gen. 
  43:28).  Bowing  is  also  frequently  mentioned  as  an  act  of 
  adoration  to  idols  (Josh.  23:7;  2  Kings  5:18;  Judg.  2:19;  Isa. 
  44:15),  and  to  God  (Josh.  5:14;  Ps  22:29;  72:9;  Micah  6:6;  Ps 
  95:6;  Eph.  3:14). 
 

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