Crouch

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Crouch, v. i. [OE. cruchen, crouchen, crouken; cf. E. creep, G. krauchen, kriechen, or E. crook to bend, also crouch to cross.].

•  To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.  [1913 Webster]

  "Now crouch like a cur."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe.  Wordsworth.  [1913 Webster]

  "Must I stand and crouch
  Under your testy humor?"  [1913 Webster]

Crouch, v. t. [OE. cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche, cross. Cf. Crosier, Crook.].

•  To sign with the cross; to bless.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]
•  To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.  [1913 Webster]

  "She folded her arms across her chest,
  And crouched her head upon her breast."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Crouch, v. & n.
--v.intr. lower the body with the limbs close to the chest, esp. for concealment, or (of an animal) before pouncing; be in this position.
--n. an act of crouching; a crouching position.

Etymology

ME, perh. f. OF crochir be bent f. croc hook: cf. CROOK

THESAURUS

Crouch

bend, bend the knee, bend the neck, bend to, bob, bootlick, bow, bow and scrape, bow down, bow to, couch, cower, crawl, creep, cringe, cringe to, crouch before, curtsy, dip, do homage, do obeisance, duck, fawn, flatter, flinch, genuflect, genuflection, get down, grovel, huddle, hug the earth, hunch, hunch down, hunker down, kneel, kneel to, kneeling, knuckle to, kowtow, lick the dust, lickspittle, lie low, lie prone, lie prostrate, lie under, nod, obeisance, prostration, quail, reverence, salaam, scrouch down, skulk, slink, sneak, squat, stoop, supination, swat, toadeat, toady, truckle, truckle to, underlie, wallow, welter, wince

ROGET THESAURUS

Crouch

Fear

VB fear, stand in awe of, be afraid, have qualms, apprehend, sit upon thorns, eye askance, distrust, hesitate, falter, funk, cower, crouch, skulk, let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would' take fright, take alarm, start, wince, flinch, shy, shrink, fly, tremble, shake, shiver, shiver in one's shoes, shudder, flutter, shake like an aspen leaf, tremble like an aspen leaf, tremble all over, quake, quaver, quiver, quail, grow pale, turn pale, blench, stand aghast, not dare to say one's soul is one's own, inspire fear, excite fear, inspire awe, excite awe, raise apprehensions, be in a daze, bulldoze, faze, feeze, give an alarm, raise an alarm, sound an alarm, alarm, startle, scare, cry 'wolf', disquiet, dismay, fright, frighten, terrify, astound, fright from one's propriety, fright out of one's senses, fright out of one's wits, fright out of one's seven senses, awe, strike all of a heap, strike an awe into, strike terror, harrow up the soul, appall, unman, petrify, horrify, pile on the agony, make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's blood run cold, make one's teeth chatter, take away one's breath, stop one's breath, make one tremble, haunt, prey on the mind, weigh on the mind, put in fear, put in bodily fear, terrorize, intimidate, cow, daunt, overawe, abash, deter, discourage, browbeat, bully, threaten.

Lowness

VB be low, lie low, lie flat, underlie, crouch, slouch, wallow, grovel, lower.

Servility

VB cringe, bow, stoop, kneel, bend the knee, fall on one's knees, prostrate oneself, worship, sneak, crawl, crouch, cower, sponge, truckle to, grovel, fawn, lick the feet of, kiss the hem of one's garment, kiss one's ass, suck up, pay court to, feed on, fatten on, dance attendance on, pin oneself upon, hang on the sleeve of, avaler les couleuvres, keep time to, fetch and carry, do the dirty work of, go with the stream, worship the rising sun, hold with the hare and run with the hounds.

Depression

VB depress, lower, let down, take down, let down a peg, take down a peg, cast, let drop, let fall, sink, debase, bring low, abase, reduce, detrude, pitch, precipitate, overthrow, overturn, overset, upset, subvert, prostate, level, fell, cast down, take down, throw down, fling down, dash down, pull down, cut down, knock down, hew down, raze, raze to the ground, rase to the ground, trample in the dust, pull about one's ears, sit, sit down, couch, squat, crouch, stoop, bend, bow, courtesy, curtsy, bob, duck, dip, kneel, bend the knee, bow the knee, bend the head, bow the head, cower, recline.