4 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Cringe \Cringe\ (kr?nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crnged} (kr?njd);
p. pr & vb n. {Cringing}.] [As. crincgang cringan
crincan to jield, fall; akin to E. crank.]
To draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend
or crouch with base humility; to wince; hence to make court
in a degrading manner; to fawn.
When they were come up to the place where the lions
were the boys that went before were glad to cringe
behind, for they were afraid of the lions. --Bunyan.
Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou Once fawned and
cringed, and servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch?
--Milton.
Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing.
--Arbuthnot.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Cringe \Cringe\, v. t.
To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle;
to distort. [Obs.]
Till like a boy you see him cringe his face, And whine
aloud for mercy. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Cringe \Cringe\, n.
Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear
or servility. ``With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious.''
--Cowper.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
cringe
v 1: draw back as with fear [syn: {flinch}, {squinch}, {funk}, {shrink},
{wince}, {recoil}, {quail}]
2: show submission or fear [syn: {fawn}, {crawl}, {creep}, {cower},
{grovel}]
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Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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