What does kneeler mean?
A kneeler is someone who kneels, particularly during prayer or worship, but it can also name a padded support used for kneeling. The word is most strongly associated with religious settings, such as churches, where worshippers may kneel on a bench, cushion, or kneeler pad. In figurative or literary use, a person described as a kneeler may be portrayed as submissive, reverent, or obedient. The sense referring to a person and the sense referring to furniture share the same basic idea: kneeling. The furniture sense is especially useful when describing the physical arrangements of a church, place of worship, or ceremonial space, while the personal sense can convey either sincere devotion or a broader idea of submission.
nounA kneeler is a person who kneels, especially during prayer or religious worship. The word can also refer to a padded support or furnishing designed for someone to kneel on.
- A person who kneels, especially as an act of prayer, worship, submission, or respect.
- A padded support or furnishing on which a person kneels.
"The congregation knelt on the padded kneeler during the service."
"The young kneeler bowed his head in silence."
"She knelt on a soft kneeler while the child was baptized."
The plural is used for multiple people who kneel or multiple kneeling supports.
"The church placed several kneelers near the altar."
A kneeler can mean either a person in prayer or the special padded furniture that supports one during it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kneeler come from?
The word is formed from “kneel” plus the suffix “-er,” meaning a person or thing that performs an action. “Kneel” derives from Old English “cneolian,” related to a Germanic root expressing the action of resting on one’s knees. The form “kneeler” developed later as an agentive formation, with meanings extending from a person who kneels to a support used for kneeling.
How kneeler is actually used
The word is most common in religious contexts. When referring to furniture, it is often used with words such as “pad,” “bench,” or “rail.”