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Webster 1913 Edition

Cringe

Cringe

(krĭnj)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cringed
(krĭnjd)
;
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.
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.
Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou
Once fawned and
cringed
, and servilely adored
Heaven's awful monarch?
Milton.
Flatterers . . . are always bowing and
cringing
.
Arbuthnot.

Cringe

,
Verb.
T.
To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort.
[Obs.]
Till like a boy you see him
cringe
his face,
And whine aloud for mercy.
Shakespeare

Cringe

,
Noun.
Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility.
“With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious.”
Cowper.

Webster 1828 Edition

Cringe

CRINGE

,
Verb.
T.
[G.] Properly, to shrink; to contract; to draw together; a popular use of the word. [Vulgarly, scringe.]
You see him cringe his face.

CRINGE

,
Verb.
I.
To bow; to bend with servility; to fawn; to make court by mean compliances.
Flatterers are always bowing and cringing.

CRINGE

,
Noun.
A bow; servile civility.

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