5 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

bowing

adjective: showing an excessively deferential manner [syn: {bowed}]

noun

1: bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame [syn: {bow}, {obeisance}]

2: managing the bow in playing a stringed instrument; "the violinist's bowing was excellent"

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Bowing \Bow"ing\, noun (Mus.)

1. The act or art of managing the bow in playing on stringed instruments.

Bowing constitutes a principal part of the art of the violinist, the violist, etc. --J. W. Moore.

2. In hatmaking, the act or process of separating and distributing the fur or hair by means of a bow, to prepare it for felting.

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 Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

Bowing a mode of showing respect. Abraham "bowed himself to the people of the land" (Gen. 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen. 33:3); and the brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen. 43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act of adoration to idols (Josh. 23:7; 2 Kings 5:18; Judg. 2:19; Isa. 44:15), and to God (Josh. 5:14; Ps. 22:29; 72:9; Micah 6:6; Ps. 95:6; Eph. 3:14).
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