/ ˈdʒenjuflekt; NAmE / verb [ v ] ( formal )
1.
to move your body into a lower position by bending one or both knees, as a sign of respect during worship in a church
2.
genuflect (to sth) ( disapproving ) to show too much respect to sb/sth
► genu·flec·tion ( BrE also genu·flex·ion ) / ˌdʒenjuˈflekʃn; NAmE / noun [ C , U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent. (in the sense bend (the knee) ): from ecclesiastical Latin genuflectere , from Latin genu knee + flectere to bend.