Cringed

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cringe \Cringe\ (kr[i^]nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cringed}
     (kr[i^]njd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cringing}.] [As. crincgan,
     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.


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           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.
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           Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou
           Once fawned and cringed, and servilely adored
           Heaven's awful monarch?                  --Milton.
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           Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing.
                                                    --Arbuthnot.
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