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]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

bowed \bowed\ adj.

1. bent over; -- used of back or head.

Syn: bent, inclined. [WordNet 1.5]

2. (Music) sounded by stroking with a bow; -- of a stringed musical instrument; as, bowed instruments. Contrasted with plucked. [WordNet 1.5]

3. resembling an arch.

Syn: arced, arched, arching, arciform, arcuate. [WordNet 1.5]

4. same as bow-legged.

Syn: bandy, bandy-legged, bowleg, bowlegged. [WordNet 1.5]

5. submitting to the authority of another.

Syn: bowing. [WordNet 1.5]

Source: 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]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

bowed adj
1: used especially of the head or upper back; "a bent head and sloping shoulders" [syn: bent, inclined]
2: of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow [ant: plucked]
3: forming or resembling an arch; "an arched ceiling" [syn: arced, arched, arching, arciform, arcuate]
4: have legs that curve outward at the knees [syn: bandy, bandy-legged, bowleg, bowlegged]
5: showing an excessively deferential manner [syn: bowing]

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.]

1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved.

We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness. --Milton.

The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. --Prescott.

2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.

Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. --Bacon.

Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller.

3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.

They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. --2 Kings ii. 15.

4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to crush; to subdue.

Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. --Shak.

5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)