See Also: cringe(1)(dictionary)
cringe(2)(dictionary)
cringe(dictionary)

cringe(2) (iou)



cringe verb. ME.

I. verb intrans.
Contract the muscles of the body involuntarily; shrink; cower. ME.
cringe-making adjective (colloq.) = cringeworthy.
L. M. Montgomery Bridges that made Anne's flesh cringe with..fear. J. Steinbeck The dogs cringed to the ground and whined piteously. D. Lodge Some of the things I'm supposed to say..make me cringe with embarrassment.
Bow timorously or servilely (to). L16.
T. T. Lynch You should bow to most people, but cringe to nobody.
Behave obsequiously (to). E17.
Ld Macaulay To teach the people to cringe and the prince to domineer.
II. verb trans.
Draw in or contract (part of the body); distort (the neck, face, etc.). L16-M17.
Shakespeare Anthony & Cleopatra Till like a boy you see him cringe his face And whine aloud.
Cringe to (a person); usher cringingly. E17-E19.
Byron Hence, and bow and cringe him here!
cringeling noun (rare) a cringing creature L17.
cringer noun a person who cringes, an obsequious or servile person L16.
cringeworthy adjective (colloq.) causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness L20.
cringing adjective that cringes; obsequious, servile: L16.
cringingly adverb M19.
cringingness noun L17.