genuflect

/ˈdʒenjuflekt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒenjuflekt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjen-yə-ˌflekt/ (ame, mw)

genuflect — 動詞

  • genuflectpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • genuflectshe / she / it
  • genuflectedpast simple
  • genuflecting-ing form

1. to briefly place one knee on the floor inside a Catholic church to show deep res

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

屈膝跪拜

進出教堂時單膝彎曲以示對神的敬意

to briefly place one knee on the floor inside a Catholic church to show deep respect for God

例句

Jin genuflected as she entered the old stone church.

Jin 走進那座古老的石砌教堂時，屈膝跪拜了一下。

genuflect + entering a church

Before taking his seat, Father Tomás genuflected toward the altar.

Tomás 神父入座前，先朝向祭壇屈膝跪拜。

genuflect toward [religious object]

同義詞
  • kneel

    more general — kneeling is a posture for prayer or rest; genuflecting is a momentary bending of the knee toward something sacred

  • bow

    bending the upper body rather than the knee; bow is used in many cultural contexts, not just religious ones

  • curtsy

    a similar knee-bend gesture performed as a social greeting, not a religious one

反義詞
  • stand

    remaining upright instead of bending the knee

文法句型

genuflect + (before / toward / in front of) + [religious object]

用法筆記

In Catholic tradition, genuflecting is a physical gesture of reverence toward the Eucharist kept in the tabernacle — it is not the same as kneeling for prayer.

常見錯誤

❌She genuflected to pray for her sick mother.
✅She knelt to pray for her sick mother.
💡genuflection is a specific gesture of reverence toward a sacred object, not a posture for general prayer.

2. to behave toward a person or group with too much respect or obedience, as if you

2.動詞不及物C2
釋義

卑躬屈膝

對權勢表現過度恭敬與順從

to behave toward a person or group with too much respect or obedience, as if you were willing to kneel before them just to win their approval

例句

The young senator genuflected to every party leader she met.

那位年輕的參議員對她遇到的每一位黨內領袖都卑躬屈膝。

genuflect to [person] — figurative deferential behaviour

Critics accused the newspaper of genuflecting to corporate interests.

評論家批評那家報社對企業利益卑躬屈膝。

genuflect to [abstract interests]

同義詞
  • kowtow

    more specific to East Asian contexts; stronger connotation of submission to authority

  • grovel

    emphasises humiliation and loss of dignity more than genuflect does

  • defer

    milder and neutral — can be appropriate respect, not necessarily excessive

反義詞
  • defy

    to openly resist rather than bow to authority

  • stand up to

    to confront someone in authority rather than submit to them

文法句型

genuflect + to + [person/institution]

genuflect + before + [authority]

用法筆記

This figurative sense is critical or disapproving in tone. The speaker suggests the respect is undeserved or excessive.

常見錯誤

❌The fans genuflected to the singer with loud cheers.
✅The fans cheered loudly for the singer.
💡genuflect implies servile or morally questionable deference, not ordinary admiration.