1. (v. i.) To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.

2. (v. i.) To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe.

3. (v. t.) To sign with the cross; to bless.

4. (v. t.) To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.

bend bend the knee bend the neck bend to bob bootlick bow bow and scrape bow down bow to couch cower crawl creep cringe cringe to crouch before curtsy dip do homage do obeisance duck fawn flatter flinch genuflect genuflection get down grovel huddle hug the earth hunch hunch down hunker down kneel kneel to kneeling knuckle to kowtow lick the dust lickspittle lie low lie prone lie prostrate lie under nod obeisance prostration quail reverence salaam scrouch down skulk slink sneak squat stoop supination swat toadeat toady truckle truckle to underlie wallow welter wince