Cringe word meaning and definition

[verb] draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"
[verb] show submission or fear

\Cringe\ (kr?nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crnged} (kr?njd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cringing}.] [As. crincgang, cringan, crincan, to jield, fall; akin to E. crank.] 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. --Bunyan. Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou Once fawned and cringed, and servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch? --Milton. Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing. --Arbuthnot.
\Cringe\, v. t. To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort. [Obs.] Till like a boy you see him cringe his face, And whine aloud for mercy. --Shak.
\Cringe\, n. Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility. ``With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious.'' --Cowper.

Morse code: -.-. .-. .. -. --. .