grov´el|ler

grov´el|ler
grov|el «GRUHV uhl, GROV-», intransitive verb, -eled, -el|ing or (especially British) -elled, -el|ling.
1. to lie face downward; crawl at someone's feet; cringe: »

The dog groveled before his master when he saw the whip.

SYNONYM(S): fawn.
2. Figurative. to humble oneself; remain in a degrading state: »

A man apologizes when he's wrong, but he will grovel before no one.

SYNONYM(S): fawn.
3. to enjoy low, mean, or contemptible things.
[back formation < Middle English groveling, (originally) adverb < phrase on grufe prone < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic ā grūfu)]
grov´el|er, especially British,
grov´el|ler, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • grov — grov·el; grov·el·er; grov·el·ing·ly; grov·el·ing; grov·el·ings; grov·el·ler; grov·el·ling·ly; grov·el·lings; …   English syllables

  • grov´el|er — grov|el «GRUHV uhl, GROV », intransitive verb, eled, el|ing or (especially British) elled, el|ling. 1. to lie face downward; crawl at someone s feet; cringe: »The dog groveled before his master when he saw the whip. SYNONYM(S) …   Useful english dictionary

  • grov|el — «GRUHV uhl, GROV », intransitive verb, eled, el|ing or (especially British) elled, el|ling. 1. to lie face downward; crawl at someone s feet; cringe: »The dog groveled before his master when he saw the whip. SYNONYM(S) …   Useful english dictionary

  • ler — al·ber·tus·ta·ler; al·ler·gen; al·ler·gic; al·ler·gin; al·ler·gist; al·ler·gol·o·gy; al·ler·gy; al·ler·i·on; an·nul·ler; ant·ler; ant·ler·ite; ar·til·ler·ist; be·dev·il·ler; beg·ler·beg; bel·ler; bel·ler·ic; bel·ler·o·phon; bime·ler·ite;… …   English syllables

  • groveller — grov·el·ler …   English syllables

  • grovel — grov•el [[t]ˈgrɒv əl, ˈgrʌv [/t]] v. i. eled, el•ing (esp. brit.) elled, el•ling. 1) to humble oneself or act in an abject manner 2) to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate in abject humility, fear, etc 3) to take pleasure… …   From formal English to slang

  • er — er·i·an·thus; er·ic; er·i·ca; er·i·ca·ce·ae; er·i·cad; er·i·ca·les; er·i·ce·tal; er·i·ce·tic·o·lous; er·i·coid; er·i·co·phyte; erig·er·on; er·i·glos·sa; er·ik·ite; er·i·na·ceous; er·i·na·ceus; er·in·ite; er·i·nose; er·i·o·bot·rya;… …   English syllables

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