Category:Grovel

Grov"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Groveled or Grovelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Groveling or Grovelling.] Etym: [From OE. grovelinge, grufelinge, adv., on the face, prone, which was misunderstood as a p. pr.; cf. OE. gruf, groff, in the same sense; of Scand. origin, cf. Icel. grufa, in a grufu on the face, prone, grufa to grovel.]

1. To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to lie prone, or move uneasily with the body prostrate on the earth; to lie fiat on one's belly, expressive of abjectness; to crawl. To creep and grovel on the ground. Dryden.

2. To tend toward, or delight in, what is sensual or base; to be low, abject, or mean.