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Webster 1913 Edition


Grovel

Grov′el

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Groveled
or
Grovelled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Groveling
or
Grovelling
.]
[From OE.
grovelinge
,
grufelinge
,
adv.
, on the face, prone, which was misunderstood as a p. pr.; cf. OE.
gruf
,
groff
, in the same sense; of Scand. origin, cf. Icel.
grūfa
, in
ā grūfu
on the face, prone,
grūfa
to grovel.]
1.
To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to lie prone, or move uneasily with the body prostrate on the earth; to lie flat on one’s belly, expressive of abjectness; to crawl.
To creep and
grovel
on the ground.
Dryden.
2.
To tend toward, or delight in, what is sensual or base; to be low, abject, or mean.

Webster 1828 Edition


Grovel

GROV'EL

,
Verb.
I.
grov'l.
1.
To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to lie prone, or move with the body prostrate on the earth; to act in a prostrate posture.
Gaze on and grovel on thy face.
To creep and grovel on the ground.
2.
To be low or mean; a groveling sense; groveling thoughts.

Definition 2024


grovel

grovel

English

Verb

grovel (third-person singular simple present grovels, present participle grovelling or groveling, simple past and past participle grovelled or groveled)

  1. To be prone on the ground.
  2. To crawl.
  3. To abase oneself before another person.
  4. To be nice to someone or apologize in the hope of securing something.
  5. To take pleasure in mundane activities.

Usage notes

  • The spellings grovelling and grovelled are more common in the UK. Groveling and groveled are more common in the US.

Translations

Anagrams