Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally
v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen,
Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie,
bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and
Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. Fugitive.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to
inflect; to make crooked or curved.
[1913 Webster]
We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to
their natural straightness. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind
of tyranny. --Prescott.
[1913 Webster]
2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to
bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.
[1913 Webster]
Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion.
--Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller.
[1913 Webster]
3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of
respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.
[1913 Webster]
They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the
ground before him. --2 Kings ii.
15.
[1913 Webster]
4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to
crush; to subdue.
[1913 Webster]
Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bowing.]
To play (music) with a bow. -- v. i. To manage the bow.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bowing \Bow"ing\, n. (Mus.)
1. The act or art of managing the bow in playing on stringed
instruments.
[1913 Webster]
Bowing constitutes a principal part of the art of
the violinist, the violist, etc. --J. W. Moore.
[1913 Webster]
2. In hatmaking, the act or process of separating and
distributing the fur or hair by means of a bow, to prepare
it for felting.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
bowing
adj : showing an excessively deferential manner [syn: bowed]
n 1: bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or
submission or shame [syn: bow, obeisance]
2: managing the bow in playing a stringed instrument; "the
violinist's bowing was excellent"
WordNet (r) 2.0
Bowing
a mode of showing respect. Abraham "bowed himself to the people
of the land" (Gen. 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen. 33:3); and the
brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen.
43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act of
adoration to idols (Josh. 23:7; 2 Kings 5:18; Judg. 2:19; Isa.
44:15), and to God (Josh. 5:14; Ps. 22:29; 72:9; Micah 6:6; Ps.
95:6; Eph. 3:14).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
|
|
|