browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about cringing
cringing |
2 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 WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: cringing adj 1: shrinking or flinching in fear [syn: {cowering(a)}, {cringing(a)}] 2: totally submissive [syn: {groveling}, {grovelling}, {wormlike}, {wormy}]
more about cringing