genuflect

IPA/ˈdʒenjuflekt/
IPA/ˈdʒenjuflekt/

genuflect — 動詞

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

1. to go down briefly onto one knee — or both — as a traditional mark of reverence

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

屈膝

在天主教堂中單膝跪地行禮

to go down briefly onto one knee — or both — as a traditional mark of reverence in a place of worship, practised mainly in Catholic and some Anglican churches when you enter the building or pass near a holy object

例句

Amara genuflected on the cold stone floor the moment she entered the cathedral.

Amara 一走進大教堂，就在冰冷的石地板上屈膝行禮。

genuflect upon entering a church

Before taking his seat, Mr. Kowalski genuflected toward the glowing red sanctuary lamp.

Kowalski 先生入座前，朝著發紅光的聖體燈屈膝行禮。

genuflect toward [sacred object]

同義詞
  • kneel

    broader; resting on both knees for a longer period, while genuflect is a brief dip onto one or both knees

  • bow

    more general; bending at the waist to show respect in many settings, not only religious

反義詞
  • stand

    remaining upright is the opposite of lowering oneself in worship

文法句型

genuflect + before/in front of + [sacred object or place]

用法筆記

Intransitive only — never takes a direct object. The holy object or area that prompts the gesture is introduced by 'before' or 'in front of'. Most familiar in Catholic and High Anglican worship; rarely encountered outside those traditions for the literal sense.

常見錯誤

❌He genuflected the crucifix.
✅He genuflected before the crucifix.
💡genuflect is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.
❌The children genuflected around the dinner table to say grace.
✅The children knelt around the dinner table to say grace.
💡genuflect is a quick ritual dip of the knee in a place of worship, not ordinary kneeling at home.

2. to treat a powerful person with so much respect that you agree with everything t

2.動詞不及物C2
釋義

卑躬屈膝

對權貴毫無原則地討好

to treat a powerful person with so much respect that you agree with everything they say and hide your own views, just to keep their approval. Used to criticise someone, especially in politics and business.

例句

The columnist refused to genuflect to the tech billionaire, even after threats of a lawsuit.

那位專欄作家拒絕向科技億萬富翁卑躬屈膝，即使對方威脅要提告。

genuflect to [authority] — figurative, disapproving

Fatima noticed that every junior partner genuflected to the managing director's most trivial opinions.

Fatima 注意到每位初階合夥人都對總經理的瑣碎意見卑躬屈膝。

同義詞
  • grovel

    stronger; suggests desperate, humiliating pleading rather than mere deference

  • kowtow

    implies total abandonment of personal dignity before authority, often in a political context

  • fawn

    emphasises eager, flattering attention rather than obedient submission

反義詞
  • defy

    openly resist and refuse to obey — the direct opposite of servile submission

  • resist

    stand firm against authority rather than bending to it

文法句型

genuflect + to/before + [person or institution]

用法筆記

Intransitive only — the target of deference follows 'to' or 'before'. Always carries a critical, negative tone. Common in political journalism, workplace commentary, and institutional analysis where the writer accuses someone of sacrificing integrity for approval.

常見錯誤

❌The team genuflected hard to meet the deadline.
✅The team genuflected to the client's unreasonable demands.
💡genuflect means displaying excessive deference, not simply working with effort or urgency.