genuflect

1. V-I If you genuflect, you bend one or both knees and bow, especially in church, as a sign of respect. (尤指在教堂里)施屈膝礼[正式]

He genuflected in front of the altar. 他在祭坛前屈膝施礼。

2. V-I You can say that someone is genuflecting to something when they are giving it a great deal of attention and respect, especially if you think it does not deserve this. 膜拜[journalism]

They refrained from genuflecting to the laws of political economy. 他们拒不向政治经济学定律顶礼膜拜。