From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally
v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen,
Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie,
bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and
Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. Fugitive.]
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1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to
inflect; to make crooked or curved.
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We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to
their natural straightness. --Milton.
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The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind
of tyranny. --Prescott.
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2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to
bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.
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Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion.
--Bacon.
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Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller.
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3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of
respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.
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They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the
ground before him. --2 Kings ii.
15.
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4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to
crush; to subdue.
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Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave.
--Shak.
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5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. i.
1. To bend; to curve. [Obs.]
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2. To stop. [Archaic]
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They stoop, they bow down together. --Is. xlvi. 2?
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3. To bend the head, knee, or body, in token of reverence or
submission; -- often with down.
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O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel
before the Lord our maker. --Ps. xcv. 6.
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4. To incline the head in token of salutation, civility, or
assent; to make bow.
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Admired, adored by all circling crowd,
For wheresoe'er she turned her face, they bowed.
--Dryden.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bow \Bow\ (bou), n.
An inclination of the head, or a bending of the body, in
token of reverence, respect, civility, or submission; an
obeisance; as, a bow of deep humility.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), n. [OE. bowe, boge, AS. boga, fr. AS.
b[=u]gan to bend; akin to D. boog, G. bogen, Icel. bogi. See
Bow, v. t.]
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1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow.
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I do set my bow in the cloud. --Gen. ix. 13.
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2. A weapon made of a strip of wood, or other elastic
material, with a cord connecting the two ends, by means of
which an arrow is propelled.
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3. An ornamental knot, with projecting loops, formed by
doubling a ribbon or string.
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4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and
fastens it to the yoke.
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5. (Mus.) An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a
number of horse hairs stretched from end to end of it,
used in playing on a stringed instrument.
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6. An arcograph.
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7. (Mech. & Manuf.) Any instrument consisting of an elastic
rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving
reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and
arranging the hair, fur, etc., used by hatters.
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8. (Naut.) A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking
the sun's altitude at sea.
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9. (Saddlery) sing. or pl. Two pieces of wood which form the
arched forward part of a saddletree.
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Bow bearer (O. Eng. Law), an under officer of the forest
who looked after trespassers.
Bow drill, a drill worked by a bow and string.
Bow instrument (Mus.), any stringed instrument from which
the tones are produced by the bow.
Bow window (Arch.) See Bay window.
To draw a long bow, to lie; to exaggerate. [Colloq.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bowing.]
To play (music) with a bow. -- v. i. To manage the bow.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), n. [Icel. b[=o]gr shoulder, bow of a ship.
See Bough.]
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1. (Naut.) The bending or rounded part of a ship forward; the
stream or prow.
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2. (Naut.) One who rows in the forward part of a boat; the
bow oar.
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Bow chaser (Naut.), a gun in the bow for firing while
chasing another vessel. --Totten.
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Bow piece, a piece of ordnance carried at the bow of a
ship.
On the bow (Naut.), on that part of the horizon within
45[deg] on either side of the line ahead. --Totten.
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