Word of the Day – Grovel

Grovel (verb)

gro-vel

Lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one’s face downwards./Act in an obsequious way in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favour.

Middle English back-formation from the obsolete adverb grovelling, from obsolete groof, grufe ‘the face or front’ (in the phrase on grufe, from Old Norse á grúfu ‘face downwards’) + the suffix -ling.

Example sentences

“he would have to grovel at the nation’s feet.”