Bowing

Bowing
Bow Bow (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bowing}.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. {Fugitive}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. [1913 Webster]

We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. --Prescott. [1913 Webster]

2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. [1913 Webster]

Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. [1913 Webster]

They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. --2 Kings ii. 15. [1913 Webster]

4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to crush; to subdue. [1913 Webster]

Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Bowing — (also called stooping) is the act of lowering the torso and head as a social gesture in direction to another person or symbol. It is most prominent in Oriental cultures but it is also typical of nobility and aristocracy in many countries and… …   Wikipedia

  • Bowing — Bow ing, n. (Mus.) 1. The act or art of managing the bow in playing on stringed instruments. [1913 Webster] Bowing constitutes a principal part of the art of the violinist, the violist, etc. J. W. Moore. [1913 Webster] 2. In hatmaking, the act or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bowing — index compliance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • bowing — [bō′iŋ] n. the manner or technique of using the bow in playing a violin, cello, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Bowing —    The late Canon Liddon, in one of his sermons, said, The reverence of the soul is best secured when the body, its companion and instrument, is reverent also. This truth pervades all the Church s worship. Besides kneeling and standing, bowing,… …   American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  • bowing — 1. verb (bend) 2. noun a) The act of bending at the waist, as a sign of respect or greeting. The courtier had practiced his bowing. b) A …   Wiktionary

  • bowing — I noun 1. bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting • Syn: ↑bow, ↑obeisance • Derivationally related forms: ↑bow (for: ↑bow) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bowing — Bow Bow (b[=o]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Bowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bowing}.] To play (music) with a bow. v. i. To manage the bow. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bowing —    A mode of showing respect. Abraham bowed himself to the people of the land (Gen. 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen. 33:3); and the brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen. 43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • Bowing stone — Stone Stone, n. [OE. ston, stan, AS. st[=a]n; akin to OS. & OFries. st[=e]n, D. steen, G. stein, Icel. steinn, Sw. sten, Dan. steen, Goth. stains, Russ. stiena a wall, Gr. ?, ?, a pebble. [root]167. Cf. {Steen}.] 1. Concreted earthy or mineral… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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