Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
CRINGE
I. intransitive verb (cringed; cringing)
Etymology: Middle English crengen; akin to Old English cringan to yield, Middle High German krank weak
Date: 13th century
to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain), to shrink in fear or servility, to behave in an excessively humble or servile way, to recoil in distaste , see: fawn cringer noun
II. noun
Date: 1597
a cringing act