bended knee
Supplicant's humble stance
Bended knee is the position of kneeling on one knee, typically as a gesture of supplication, reverence, or romantic proposal.
The phrase appears almost exclusively in the fixed expression on bended knee: He proposed on bended knee.
Though "bent" is the standard past tense of "bend," the archaic "bended" survives in this idiom, giving it a formal or ceremonial tone.
- kneelBend legs to ground
- genuflectBend knee reverently
- proposePut forth formally
- marriage proposalOffer of matrimony
- prayerAddress to deity
church pew · submission · reverence · chapel · altar · worship · bow · humble · humble servant · supplication · ring · wedding ring · engagement · proposal · devotion · curtsy · homage · prostrate
- proposalsproposal, RFP, business proposal, grant proposal, research proposal
- courtly gesturesbow, curtsy, genuflection, kneeling, hand kiss
- submission gestureskowtow, genuflection, genuflect, genuflecting, prostration
- engagementattention, interest, involvement, participation, interaction
- feudal obligationshomage, tribute, tithe, service, allegiance
bended kneestanding tall
Remaining proudly upright
upright stance · erect posture · standing position · ramrod straight · head held high
bended kneedominance
Superior influence over others
authority · command · lordship · superiority · enthroned
bended kneedefiance
Open resistance to authority
standing one's ground · resistance · unbowed · rebellion · unbroken
bend, bends, bent, bending, bender, unbent, knee, knees, kneed