grovelling

Definition of Grovelling in English :

totally submissive

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Grovelling

verb -els, -elling, -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled (intransitive)

1.

to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect

2.

to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility

3. (often foll by in)

to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)

verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈgroveled or ˈgrovelled, ˈgroveling or ˈgrovelling

1.

to lie prone or crawl in a prostrate position, esp. abjectly

2.

to behave humbly or abjectly, as before authority; debase oneself in a servile fashion

3.

to wallow in what is low or contemptible

intr.v. grov·eled, grov·el·ing, grov·els also grov·elled or grov·el·ling

1. To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.

2. To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.

3. To give oneself over to base pleasures: "Have we not groveled here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?" (Walt Whitman).