Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BOW, v.t. [Sax. bugan, bygan; W. bwan, and bacu, to bend, to grapple; G. biegen, beugen; D. boogen, buigen; Sw. böya; Dan. böyer, to bend.]

1. To bend; to inflect; as, to bow vines.
2. To bend the body in token of respect or civility; as, to bow the head.
3. To bend or incline toward, in condescension. Bow down thine ear to the poor. – Eccles.
4. To depress; to crush; to subdue. His heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. He bows the nations to his will.