| / English Dictionary |
BOWING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Managing the bow in playing a stringed instrument
Example:
the violinist's bowing was excellent
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("bowing" is a kind of...):
playing (the act of playing a musical instrument)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bowing"):
spiccato; spiccato bowing (bowing in such a way that the bow bounces lightly off the strings)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("bowing" is a kind of...):
reverence (an act showing respect (especially a bow or curtsy))
gesture; motion (the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bowing"):
genuflection; genuflexion (the act of bending the knees in worship or reverence)
kotow; kowtow (a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission)
scrape; scraping (a deep bow with the foot drawn backwards (indicating excessive humility))
salaam (a deep bow; a Muslim form of salutation)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Showing an excessively deferential manner
Synonyms:
bowed; bowing
Classified under:
Similar:
submissive (inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination)
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb bow
Context examples:
Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that way.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Sir Thomas, politely bowing, replied, It is the only way, sir, in which I could not wish you established as a permanent neighbour; but I hope, and believe, that Edmund will occupy his own house at Thornton Lacey.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
For, after having been accustomed several months to the sight and converse of this people, and observed every object upon which I cast mine eyes to be of proportionable magnitude, the horror I had at first conceived from their bulk and aspect was so far worn off, that if I had then beheld a company of English lords and ladies in their finery and birth-day clothes, acting their several parts in the most courtly manner of strutting, and bowing, and prating, to say the truth, I should have been strongly tempted to laugh as much at them as the king and his grandees did at me.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
A bowing acquaintance.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
“Good-day, Lord St. Simon,” said Holmes, rising and bowing.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He rose with a very courteous air, and, bowing to us, he passed out through a door at the farther end of the room, which he closed behind him.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"What are your commands?" inquired the King of the Monkeys, bowing low.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
The schooner, heeled over far out from the perpendicular, was bowing and plunging into the long Pacific roll.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
"That mademoiselle has made good use of her time, and the result is charming," replied Laurie, bowing with his hand on his heart and an admiring look.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Upon my honour, said Mr. Micawber, indefinitely kissing his hand and bowing with his genteelest air, I do Homage to Miss Wickfield!
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
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