Grovel Definition
grŏvəl, grŭv-
groveled, groveling, grovelled, grovelling, grovels
verb
groveled, groveling, grovelled, grovelling, grovels
To lie prone or crawl in a prostrate position, esp. abjectly.
Webster's New World
To behave humbly or abjectly, as before authority; debase oneself in a servile fashion.
Webster's New World
To wallow in what is low or contemptible.
Webster's New World
To give oneself over to base pleasures.
American Heritage
To be prone on the ground.
Wiktionary
Origin of Grovel
-
Back-formation from obsolete groveling prone, face downward from Middle English (on) grufe face downwards (from Old Norse ā grūfu) (from grūfa to grovel) -ling adv. suff. –ling2
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old Norse á grufu (“on one's belly”) (> Old Norse grúfa (“to grovel”)).
From Wiktionary
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