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)
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