noun servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility.
2. cringe ·vt to contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort.
3. cringe ·vt to draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend or crouch with base humility; to wince; hence; to make court in a degrading manner; to fawn.