the act of kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead to show great deference, submissive respect, homage, etc., as formerly in China
Origin of kowtow
Chinese k'o-t'ou, literally , bump head- to perform a kowtow
- to show servile respect (to)
kowtow
kow·tow
verb
- A woman who gives into all of her husband's needs and demands and who is submissive to him is an example of someone who kowtows to her husband.
- When a Chinese man touches his forehead to the ground while worshiping, this is an example of kowtow.
The definition of kowtow is to be submissive or subservient to someone, or to kneel and touch the ground with your forehead as an act of worship.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"kowtow." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow>.
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kowtow. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow
kowtow
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"kowtow." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow>.
APA Style
kowtow. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow
kowtow
intransitive verb
kow·towed, kow·tow·ing, kow·tows- To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China.
- To show servile deference. See Synonyms at fawn1.
noun
- The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.
- An obsequious act.
Origin of kowtow
From Mandarin kòu tóu a kowtow from Middle Chinese khəw` t&hhook;əw khəw` to strike, knock t&hhook;əw headTHE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"kowtow." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow>.
APA Style
kowtow. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow
Verb
(third-person singular simple present kowtows, present participle kowtowing, simple past and past participle kowtowed)
- (intransitive) To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground.
- (intransitive) To bow very deeply.
- (intransitive, figuratively) To act in a very submissive manner.
Noun
(plural kowtows)
- The act of kowtowing.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"kowtow." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow>.
APA Style
kowtow. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/kowtow
