kneel

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
2. (intransitive) To sink down so that the entrance is level with the pavement, making it easier for passengers to enter.
3. (transitive) To cause to kneel.
4. (archaic, reflexive) To rest on (one's) knees.

Synonyms

kneel down

genuflect

bow

🙇

bend down

worship

bend the knee

kneeling

bend over

go down on one’s knee

squat

fall on one’s knees

knee

bring to knees

bow to ground

bow down

cower

down

genuflection

go down

kowtow

prostrate

row

series

genuflexion

go down on one’s knees

Translations

s’agenouiller

inginocchiarsi

arrodillarse

knien

knielen

agenouiller

γονατίζω

arrodillar

ajoelhar-se

ajoelhar

niederknien

ركع

🙇

agenollar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/niːl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: knelen

Inherited from Old English: cnēowlian

Cognate with Dutch: knielen

Cognate with Low German: knelen

Cognate with German: knielen

Cognate with Swiss German: chnüle

Cognate with Danish: knæle

In summary

From Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian (“to kneel”), equivalent to knee + -le. Cognate with Dutch knielen, Low German knelen, dialectal German knielen, Alemannic German chnüle, Danish knæle, all meaning “to kneel”.