Genuflection

Pronunciation: /ˌdʒɛn.jʊˈflɛk.ʃən/

Definitions of genuflection

noun an act of bending the knee or touching it to the ground in reverence or worship

Example Sentences

A1 She made a genuflection before entering the church.

A2 During the ceremony, the priest performed a genuflection as a sign of respect.

B1 The act of genuflection is common in many religious traditions as a gesture of reverence.

B2 The genuflection of the knight in front of the king was a display of loyalty and submission.

C1 The genuflection of the politician was seen as a calculated move to gain favor with the public.

C2 Her genuflection was met with skepticism by the crowd, who saw it as insincere.

Examples of genuflection in a Sentence

formal During the religious ceremony, the congregation performed a genuflection as a sign of reverence.

informal In some cultures, a genuflection is a common gesture of respect.

slang I've seen people do that weird genuflection thing at the altar before.

figurative His genuflection to the powerful interests in the industry did not go unnoticed.

Grammatical Forms of genuflection

• past tense: genuflected
• plural: genuflections
• comparative: more genuflective
• superlative: most genuflective
• present tense: genuflects
• future tense: will genuflect
• perfect tense: has genuflected
• continuous tense: is genuflecting
• singular: genuflection
• positive degree: genuflection
• infinitive: to genuflect
• gerund: genuflecting
• participle: genuflecting

Origin and Evolution of genuflection

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'genuflection' originated from Latin 'genuflectere', which is a combination of 'genu' meaning knee and 'flectere' meaning to bend.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in religious contexts to describe the act of bending the knee as a sign of reverence or worship, 'genuflection' has evolved to also refer to a similar gesture of respect or submission in non-religious settings.