Bow (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Bowed (�); p. pr. & vb. n.Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. būgan (generally v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. böja, Dan. böie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. �, and Skr. bhuj to bend. √88. Cf. Fugitive.]
1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved.
We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness.
Milton.
The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny.
Prescott.
2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.
Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion.
Bacon.
Not to bow and bias their opinions.
Fuller.
3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.
They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2 Kings ii. 15.
4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;� to crush; to subdue.
Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave.
Shak.
5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.