Cringe v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cringed p. pr. & vb. n. Cringing.]  To draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend or crouch with base humility; to wince; hence, to make court in a degrading manner; to fawn.
    When they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions.   --Bunyan.
 Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou
 Once fawned and cringed, and servilely adored
 Heaven's awful monarch?   --Milton.
    Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing.   --Arbuthnot.


 cringing
      adj : totally submissive [syn: groveling, grovelling, wormlike,
             wormy]