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| kow·tow [ kòw tów, ków tòw ] |
intransitive verb (past and past participle kow·towed, present participle kow·tow·ing, 3rd person present singular kow·tows) |
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1. be servile: to behave in an extremely submissive way in order to please somebody in a position of authority
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2. kneel to show respect: formerly, in China, to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in order to show respect, awe, or submission
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noun (plural kow·tows) |
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1. servile act: an extremely submissive act aimed at pleasing somebody in a position of authority
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2. act of kneeling to show respect: a show of respect or worship made by kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground
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| [Early 19th century. < Chinese kòutóu "strike (the) head"] |
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 kow·tow·er noun |
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