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grovel

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈgrɒv^əl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈgrɑvəl, ˈgrʌv-/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(gruv′əl, grov′-)

Inflections of 'grovel' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

When both "l" and "ll" forms exist, spellings with a double "l" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "l" are not correct in UK English.

grovels: v 3rd person singular

grovelling: v pres p (Mainly UK)

groveling: v pres p (US)

grovelled: v past (Mainly UK)

groveled: v past (US)

grovelled: v past p (Mainly UK)

groveled: v past p (US)

grov•el /ˈgrɑvəl, ˈgrʌv-/USA pronunciation v. [no object], -eled, -el•ing or (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling.

to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body flat, as in fear.
to humble oneself:always groveling before the boss, begging for favors.

grov•el•er, [esp. Brit.,] grov•el•ler, n. [countable]

grov•el (gruv′əl, grov′-),USA pronunciation v.i., -eled, -el•ing or (esp. Brit.) -elled, -el•ling.

to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility.
to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, esp. in abject humility, fear, etc.
to take pleasure in mean or base things.

Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling², taken to be present participle
back formation from obsolete groveling (adverb, adverbial), equivalent. to obsolete grufe face down (1585–95

grov′el•er;
[esp. Brit.,] grov′el•ler, n.
grov′el•ing•ly;
[esp. Brit.,] grov′el•ling•ly, adv.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grovel /ˈɡrɒv^əl/ vb ( -els, -elling, -elled) ( US -els, -eling, -eled) (intransitive)

to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect
to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility
(often followed by in) to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)

Etymology: 16th Century: back formation from obsolete groveling (adv), from Middle English on grufe on the face, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa prone position; see -ling²ˈgroveller, US ˈgroveler n

'grovel' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

dust - nuzzle - truckle

In Lists: Song of the Silent Snow, more...

Synonyms: crawl, cringe, truckle, kowtow, snivel, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "grovel" in the title:

grovel at her feet
Grovel under the bed
grovel, prostrate, genuflect
To grovel
where grovel the beat-man of society

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⇱ grovel - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

grovel