bend the knee

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To swear fealty or allegiance to another person.

   • The timid among them declared that he would burn the houses and hang all that had bent the knee to King Louis.
   • The Earls have power over their lands and people, but must bend the knee to the King and serve as his vassals, just as their own vassals bend the knee to them, and serve them.
   • Joffrey, Renly, Robb Stark: they're all thieves. They'll bend the knee or I'll destroy them.
2. 2

   To submit to or show reverence toward a divine power.

   • Jezebel, though she bent the knee to Baal, was pleasing in Ahab’s sight; and he saw that her father’s army, though deplorably pagan, wielded heavy swords.
   • We will realize that in our weakness He is strong and that as we bend the knee to His lordship, God is more than able to deliver us.
   • For one thing, Christians refused to bend the knee to anyone but God, certainly not to Caesar.
3. 3

   To show undue deference, obedience, or support for someone or something.

   • But there's something more sinister in the need for companies to bend the knee to Washington politicians.
   • Kafka had bent the knee to his father’s desires and taken a job in an insurance office.

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