Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

kneel

 - 3 dictionary results

kneel

[neel] verb, knelt or kneeled, kneel⋅ing, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to go down or rest on the knees or a knee.
–noun
2. the action or position of kneeling.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME knelen, OE cnēowlian (c. LG knelen, D knielen). See knee, -le


kneel⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To kneel
kneel   (nēl)   
intr.v.   knelt (nělt) or kneeled, kneel·ing, kneels
To go down or rest on one or both knees.

[Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian; see genu-1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

kneel 
O.E. cneowlian, from cneow (see knee); cf. Goth. knussjan, Gk. gnyx "with bent knee." Past tense knelt is a modern formation (19c.) on analogy of feel/felt, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see kneel on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: