gen‧u‧flect /ˈdʒenjəflekt, ˈdʒenjʊflekt/ verb [intransitive] formal
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: Late Latin; Origin: genuflectere, from Latin genu 'knee' + flectere 'to bend']

1. to bend one or both knees when in church or a holy place as a sign of respect

2. to show too much respect towards someone or something – used to show disapproval Synonym : kowtow
genuflect to
He was a man of principle, refusing to genuflect to the party leadership.
—genuflection /ˌdʒenjəˈflekʃən, ˌdʒenjʊˈflekʃən/ noun [uncountable and countable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲