genuflection
pronunciation
How to pronounce genuflection in British English:
UK [ˌdʒenjʊ'flekʃn]
How to pronounce genuflection in American English:
US [ˌdʒenjʊ'flekʃn]
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- Noun:
- the act of bending the knees in worship or reverence
Word Origin
- genuflection (n.)
- "act of bending the knee," especially in worship, early 15c., from Middle French génuflexion (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin genuflectionem (nominative genuflexio) "bending of the knee," noun of action from past participle stem of Late Latin genuflectere "genuflect," properly genu flectere "to bend the knee," from Latin genu "knee" (see knee (n.)) + flectere "to bend" (see flexible).
Example
- 1. The genuflection to beijing occurs just when japan 's relations with america have been strained by a dispute over a military base .