From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grovel \Grov"el\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Groveled}or {Grovelled};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Groveling} or {Grovelling}.] [From OE.
grovelinge, grufelinge, adv., on the face, prone, which was
misunderstood as a p. pr.; cf. OE. gruf, groff, in the same
sense; of Scand. origin, cf. Icel. gr[=u]fa, in [=a] gr[=u]fu
on the face, prone, gr[=u]fa to grovel.]
1. To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to
lie prone, or move uneasily with the body prostrate on the
earth; to lie flat on one's belly, expressive of
abjectness; to crawl.
[1913 Webster]
To creep and grovel on the ground. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. To tend toward, or delight in, what is sensual or base; to
be low, abject, or mean.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
groveling \grov"el*ing\, grovelling \grov"el*ling\, a.
Lying prone; low; debased; submissive in a self-abasing
manner. "A groveling creature." --Cowper.
Syn: cringing, wormlike, wormy.
[1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
groveling
adj 1: totally submissive [syn: {cringing}, {groveling},
{grovelling}, {wormlike}, {wormy}]
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