gen·u·flect 
(j
ĕn
y
ə-fl
ĕkt
′)
intr.v. gen·u·flect·ed,
gen·u·flect·ing,
gen·u·flects 1. To bend the knee or touch one knee to the floor or ground, as in worship.
2. To be servilely respectful or deferential; grovel.
[Late Latin genūflectere : Latin genū, knee; see genu-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Latin flectere, to bend.]
gen′u·flection (-flĕkshən) n.