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cringe

 - 3 dictionary results

cringe

  [krinj] verb, cringed, cring⋅ing, noun
Use cringe in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to shrink, bend, or crouch, esp. in fear or servility; cower.
2. to fawn.
–noun
3. servile or fawning deference.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME crengen, crenchen (transit.); OE *crencean, crencgean, causative of cringan, crincan to yield, fall (in battle)

Related forms:
cringer, noun
cring⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
cring⋅ing⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To cringe
cringe   (krĭnj)   
intr.v.   cringed, cring·ing, cring·es

  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.

  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.

n.  An act or instance of cringing.

[Middle English crengen, to bend haughtily, probably ultimately from Old English cringan, to give way.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

cringe 
c.1225, from causative of O.E. cringan "give way, fall (in battle), become bent," from P.Gmc. *krank- "bend, curl up."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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