The act of bending low with the limbs close to the body.

Bend one's back forward from the waist on down:
— He crouched down.

synonyms: bend, bow, stoop.

Roget 207: be low etc. adj.; lie low, lie flat; underlie; crouch, slouch, wallow, grovel; lower etc. (depress) 308.    ... show more

Roget 308: depress, lower, let down, take down, let down a peg, take down a peg; cast; let drop, let fall; sink, debase, bring low, abase, reduce, detrude^†, pitch, precipitate.    overthrow, overturn, overset^†; upset, subvert, prostate, level, fell; cast down, take down, throw down, fling down, dash down, pull down, cut down, knock down, hew down; raze, raze to the ground, rase to the ground^†; trample in the dust, pull about one's ears.    sit, sit down; couch, squat, crouch, stoop, bend, bow; courtesy, curtsy; bob, duck, dip, kneel; bend the knee, bow the knee, bend the head, bow the head; cower; recline etc. (be horizontal) 213.    ... show more

Roget 860: fear, stand in awe of; be afraid etc. adj.; have qualms etc. n.; apprehend, sit upon thorns, eye askance; distrust etc. (disbelieve) 485.    hesitate etc. (be irresolute) 605; falter, funk, cower, crouch; skulk etc. (cowardice) 862; let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would'" [Macbeth] take fright, take alarm; start, wince, flinch, shy, shrink; fly etc. (avoid) 623.    tremble, shake; shiver, shiver in one's shoes; shudder, flutter; shake like an aspen leaf, tremble like an aspen leaf, tremble all over; quake, quaver, quiver, quail.    grow pale, turn pale; blench, stand aghast; not dare to say one's soul is one's own.    inspire fear, excite fear, inspire awe, excite awe; raise apprehensions^†; be in a daze, bulldoze [U.S.]; faze, feeze [U.S.]; give an alarm, raise an alarm, sound an alarm; alarm, startle, scare, cry 'wolf', disquiet, dismay; fright, frighten, terrify; astound; fright from one's propriety; fright out of one's senses, fright out of one's wits, fright out of one's seven senses; awe; strike all of a heap, strike an awe into, strike terror; harrow up the soul, appall, unman, petrify, horrify; pile on the agony.    make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's blood run cold, make one's teeth chatter; take away one's breath, stop one's breath; make one tremble &c.; haunt; prey on the mind, weigh on the mind.    put in fear, put in bodily fear; terrorize, intimidate, cow, daunt, overawe, abash, deter, discourage; browbeat, bully; threaten etc. 909.    ... show more

Roget 886: cringe, bow, stoop, kneel, bend the knee; fall on one's knees, prostrate oneself; worship etc. 990.    sneak, crawl, crouch, cower, sponge, truckle to, grovel, fawn, lick the feet of, kiss the hem of one's garment, kiss one's ass [Vulg.], suck up.    pay court to; feed on, fatten on, dance attendance on, pin oneself upon, hang on the sleeve of, avaler les couleuvres [Fr.], keep time to, fetch and carry, do the dirty work of.    go with the stream, worship the rising sun, hold with the hare and run with the hounds.    ... show more

Sit on one's heels.

synonyms: hunker, hunker down, scrunch, scrunch up, squat.