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grovel

/ˈɡrɒv.əl/

/ˈɡrɑː.vəl/

Translations

grovelverb

groveled

Past Simple

groveled

Past Participle

groveling

Gerund

/ˈɡrɒv.əl/

/ˈɡrɑː.vəl/

s'humilierSe dit d’une attitude servile pour obtenir le pardon ou une faveur.

He had to grovel to his boss to keep his job after the mistake.

Il a dû s'humilier devant son patron pour garder son emploi après cette erreur.

ramperÀ plat ventre, avec une idée d’abaissement.

The prisoner was forced to grovel before the king, begging for mercy.

Le prisonnier fut forcé de ramper devant le roi en implorant sa grâce.

Additional translations

se complaireSens figuré, souvent avec une idée de bassesse ou d’apitoiement sur soi.

Synonyms

humble oneself

grovelverb

To lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one's face downward.

The prisoner was forced to grovel before the king, begging for mercy.

To act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain someone's forgiveness or favor.

He had to grovel to his boss to keep his job after the mistake.

To dwell on or indulge in something base, unpleasant, or unworthy.

After losing the match, he preferred to grovel in self-pity rather than try again.