genuflection

[ jen-yoo-flek-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act of bending the knee or touching it to the ground in reverence or worship.

Word History and Origins

Origin of genuflection¹

First recorded in 1520–30, genuflection is from the Medieval Latin word genūflexiōn- (stem of genūflexiō ). See genuflect, -ion

Example Sentences

Or is something else happening; is the press manifesting an unadmitted genuflection to raw power, exercised arbitrarily, out of calculated self-preservation?

From Salon

At earlier hearings, university presidents opted for strategies of conciliatory genuflection or drab, lawyerly answers.

From New York Times

“It’s only a movie, and … a much less impressive one than all the accompanying genuflection would have you believe.”

From Los Angeles Times

Still, they’ve all grown too used to each other to engage in much genuflection: When you treat an awards campaign like a full-time job, the other contenders might as well be your co-workers.

From New York Times

“It’s gracious. It makes a genuflection in the direction of Biden and America without actually giving anything away.”

From Los Angeles Times