Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cringe \Cringe\ (kr?nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crnged} (kr?njd);
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Cringing}.] [As. crincgang, cringan,
   crincan, to jield, fall; akin to E. crank.]
   To draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend
   or crouch with base humility; to wince; hence; to make court
   in a degrading manner; to fawn.

         When they were come up to the place where the lions
         were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe
         behind, for they were afraid of the lions. --Bunyan.

         Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou Once fawned and
         cringed, and servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch?
                                                  --Milton.

         Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing.
                                                  --Arbuthnot.

Cringe \Cringe\, v. t.
   To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle;
   to distort. [Obs.]

         Till like a boy you see him cringe his face, And whine
         aloud for mercy.                         --Shak.

Cringe \Cringe\, n.
   Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear
   or servility. ``With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious.''
   --Cowper.

Source : WordNet®

cringe
     v 1: draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they
          showed the slaughtering of the calf" [syn: {flinch}, {squinch},
           {funk}, {shrink}, {wince}, {recoil}, {quail}]
     2: show submission or fear [syn: {fawn}, {crawl}, {creep}, {cower},
         {grovel}]