cringing
UK[ˈkrɪndʒɪŋ]US[ˈkrɪndʒɪŋ]
adj
behaving in a way that shows you are very embarrassed or ashamed
v
(present participle) to feel very embarrassed and ashamed about something; to move away from someone or something because you are frightened
Etymology
the verb 'cringe' originates from the old english verb cringan, meaning "to fall in battle, to yield." this term is of germanic origin, related to middle dutch cringhen "to shrink" and old high german kringan "to turn, twist." the core semantic thread connects the physical act of bending, shrinking, or yielding to a more abstract sense of recoiling in fear, servility, or acute embarrassment. the present participle form 'cringing' developed naturally in middle english, grammaticalizing the ongoing action or state derived from this root. its modern meaning, strongly associated with a visceral reaction to socially awkward or embarrassing situations, fully crystallized in the 20th century.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form derived from the verb 'cringe'. it is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in modern english.
Examples
he gave a cringing apology after his mistake was exposed.
she was cringing at the memory of her earlier comments.
the dog was cringing in the corner during the thunderstorm.