1 behave obsequiously in seeking favour or forgiveness.
2 lie prone in abject humility.
Derivatives:
groveller n. grovelling adj. grovellingly adv.
Etymology: back-form. f. obs. grovelling (adv.) f. gruf face down f. on grufe f. ON aacute gruacutefu, later taken as pres. part.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.