/niːl/, /kniːl/
OriginFrom Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian (“to kneel”), equivalent to knee + -le. Cognate with Dutch knielen, Low German knelen, dialectal German knielen, Alemannic German chnüle, Danish knæle, all meaning “to kneel”.
- intransitiveTo rest on one's bent knees, sometimes only one; to move to such a position.
“When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped ; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs kneeling on the hea”
- intransitiveTo sink down so that the entrance is level with the pavement, making it easier for passengers to enter.
- transitiveTo cause to kneel.
“She knelt the doll to fit it into the box.”
“Raising the girl with unexpected strength, she bore her towards the chapel, the firesparks flickered in her eyes, as she knelt her burden against the altar step.”
“Kneel him down and stick his head in. No, don't let him up, just hold him there.”
- archaic, reflexiveTo rest on (one's) knees.
“He knelt him down to pray.”
“Just when the damsel kneeled herself to pray.”
Formskneels(present, singular, third-person) · kneeling(participle, present) · knelt(participle, past) · knelt(past) · kneeled(participle, past) · kneeled(past)