GROVEL

intransitive verb (-eled or -elled; -eling or -elling) Etymology: back-formation from ~ing prone, from ~ing, adverb, from Middle English, from gruf, adverb, on the face (from Old Norse ā grūfu) + -ling Date: 1552 to creep with the face to the ground ; crawl , 2. to lie or creep with the body prostrate in token of subservience or abasement, to abase oneself, to give oneself over to what is base or unworthy ; wallow , ~er noun ~ingly adverb