genuflect
verb (noun: genuflection)

- to kneel, or nearly kneel, on one knee and then rise again in worship or as an act of respect

- in figurative use, genuflect means "to be humbly obedient or respectful”

Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The etymology of "genuflect" takes us on a journey from late Latin genuflectere combining genu "knee" and flectere "to bend” — literally  "bend the knee”.

Flectere appears in the etymologies of a number of more common verbs, such as reflect "to bend or throw back light” and deflect "to turn aside".

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ANIMAL RESPECT

- Emperor penguins greet each other with a head bob that resembles a formal bow. This "emperor bow" might be a way to identify each other or establish social status.

- Some dog breeds, like Golden Retrievers, might greet humans by playfully rolling on their backs, exposing their bellies in a submissive and appeasement gesture.

- Bighorn sheep use headbutts to determine dominance. The harder the headbutt, the higher the rank in the herd.

- Chimpanzees sometimes share food with higher-ranking individuals as a sign of appeasement or to curry favour.

- Dolphins sometimes perform leaps and spins when encountering larger marine animals like whales. This energetic display might be a way to show respect and avoid aggression.

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SYNONYMS

bow down (in respect), bend the knee (literal or metaphorical), bob (informal, quick bow), curtsy (formal bow, typically for women), do obeisance (formal, show respect), drop to one knee (literal kneeling), grovel (extreme submission, often negative), kneel (bend both knees), kowtow (deep bow with head on the ground), pay homage (show respect), perform a GENUFLECTION (formal), prostrate oneself (completely flat on the ground), stoop (bend forward in submission)

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Although highly formalised in humans, it’s fascinating to observe GENUFLECTION in other species.”

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