What does genuflection mean?

Definitions for genuflection
gen·u·flec·tion

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word genuflection.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. genuflection, genuflexionnoun

    the act of bending the knees in worship or reverence

Wiktionary

  1. genuflectionnoun

    the act of genuflecting

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Genuflectionnoun

    The act of bending the knee; adoration expressed by bending the knee.

    Etymology: genuflexion, French; genu and flecto, Latin.

    Here they make use of all the rites of adoration, genuflections, wax-candles, incense, oblations, prayers only excepted. Edward Stillingfleet, Defence of Disc. on Rom. Idol.

Wikipedia

  1. Genuflection

    Genuflection or genuflexion is the act of bending a knee to the ground, as distinguished from kneeling which more strictly involves both knees. From early times, it has been a gesture of deep respect for a superior. Today, the gesture is common in the Christian religious practices of the Anglican Church, Lutheran Church, Catholic Church, and Western Rite Orthodox Church. The Latin word genuflectio, from which the English word is derived, originally meant kneeling with both knees rather than the rapid dropping to one knee and immediately rising that became customary in Western Europe in the Middle Ages. It is often referred to as "going down on one knee" or "bowing the knee". In Western culture, one genuflects on the left knee to a human dignitary, whether ecclesiastical or civil, while, in Christian churches and chapels, one genuflects on the right knee when the Sacrament is not exposed but in a tabernacle or veiled (conversely, one kneels with both knees if the Sacrament is exposed).

ChatGPT

  1. genuflection

    Genuflection is the act of bending one knee to the ground, often in reverence, respect, or worship. It is primarily used in religious contexts, particularly in Christian liturgical practices.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Genuflectionnoun

    the act of bending the knee, particularly in worship

Wikidata

  1. Genuflection

    Genuflection, bending at least one knee to the ground, was from early times a gesture of deep respect for a superior. In 328 BC, Alexander the Great introduced into his court etiquette some form of genuflection already in use in Persia. In the Byzantine Empire even senators were required to genuflect to the emperor. In medieval Europe, one demonstrated respect for a king or noble by going down on one knee, often remaining there until told to rise. It is traditionally often performed in western cultures by a male making a proposal of marriage, which is about the only remaining secular use in the West. More recently the gesture is mostly restricted to Catholic religious practices. The Latin word genuflectio, from which the English word is derived, originally meant kneeling rather than the rapid dropping to one knee and immediately rising that became customary in Western Europe in the Middle Ages.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of genuflection in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of genuflection in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5


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"genuflection." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/genuflection>.

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