— groveler; esp. Brit., groveller , n. — grovelingly; esp. Brit., grovellingly , adv.
/gruv"euhl, grov"-/ , v.i. , groveled, groveling or ( esp. Brit. ) grovelled, grovelling .
1. to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility.
2. to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, esp. in abject humility, fear, etc.
3. to take pleasure in mean or base things.
[ 1585-95; back formation from obs. groveling (adv.), equiv. to obs. grufe face down ( a grufu face down) + -LING 2 , taken to be prp. ]
Syn. 1. truckle, toady, fawn, kowtow, pander.