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   grovel

   /ˈɡrɒvl/

   verb

   • 1. lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one's face downwards: "he grovelled at George's feet" Similar crawlcreepcringecrouchprostrate oneselfkneelfall on one's kneesthrow oneself at someone's feet
   • ▪ act in an obsequious way in order to obtain someone's forgiveness or favour: "they criticized leaders who grovelled to foreign patrons" Similar behave obsequiouslybe obsequiousbe servilebe sycophanticfawnkowtowbow and scrapetoadytruckleabase oneselfhumble oneselfprostrate oneselfcurry favour withflattercourtwoodance attendance onmake up toplay up toingratiate oneself withinformal:crawlcreepsuck upbutter upbe all overfall all overlick someone's bootsrub up the right wayarchaic:blandish

   Word Origin Middle English: back-formation from the obsolete adverb grovelling, from obsolete groof, grufe ‘the face or front’ (in the phrase on grufe, from Old Norse á grúfu ‘face downwards’) + the suffix -ling.

   Derivatives

   • 1. groveller noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • G

     2

   • R

     1

   • O

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

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