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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bow \Bow\ (bou), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Bowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bowing}.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally verb (used without an object)); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. {Fugitive}.]
1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved.
We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness. --Milton.
The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. --Prescott.
2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.
Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. --Bacon.
Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller.
3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.
They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. --2 Kings ii. 15.
4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to crush; to subdue.
Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. --Shak.
5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Bowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bowing}.] To play (music) with a bow. -- verb (used without an object) To manage the bow.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
bowed \bowed\ adjective
1. bent over; -- used of back or head.
Syn: bent, inclined. [WordNet 1.5]
2. (Music) sounded by stroking with a bow; -- of a stringed musical instrument; as, bowed instruments. Contrasted with {plucked}. [WordNet 1.5]
3. resembling an arch.
Syn: arced, arched, arching, arciform, arcuate. [WordNet 1.5]
4. same as {bow-legged}.
Syn: bandy, bandy-legged, bowleg, bowlegged. [WordNet 1.5]
5. submitting to the authority of another.
Syn: bowing. [WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
bowed
adjective
1: used especially of the head or upper back; "a bent head and sloping shoulders" [syn: {bent}, {inclined}]
2: of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow [ant: {plucked}]
3: forming or resembling an arch; "an arched ceiling" [syn: {arced}, {arched}, {arching}, {arciform}, {arcuate}]
4: have legs that curve outward at the knees [syn: {bandy}, {bandy-legged}, {bowleg}, {bowlegged}]
5: showing an excessively deferential manner [syn: {bowing}]
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |