Cringe (kr&ibreve;nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cringed (kr&ibreve;njd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cringing.] [As. crincgan, 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.

• to shrink or recoil, as in fear or disgust
       He cringed as the bird collided with the window.
  
• a posture or gesture of shrinking or recoiling
       He glanced with a cringe at the mess on his desk.