v. t. | 1. | 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. When they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions. |
1. | To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort. | |
n. | 1. | Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility. |
Verb | 1. | cringe - draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf" |
2. | cringe - show submission or fear |