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cringe (v.)
1570s, "to bend or crouch, especially with servility or fear," variant of crenge, crenche "to bend" (c. 1200), from causative of Old English cringan "yield, give way, fall (in battle); become bent," from Proto-Germanic *krank- "bend, curl up" (source also of Old Norse kringr, Dutch kring, German Kring "circle, ring"). Related: Cringed; cringing. As a noun from 1590s. Cringe-worthy (adj.) is attested by 1990.
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Definitions of cringe
Dictionary entries near cringe
criminate
criminology
criminy
crimp
crimson
cringe
crinkle
crinkum-crankum
crinoid
crinoline
Crip