kneel (v.) Look up kneel at Dictionary.com
Old English cneowlian "to kneel, fall on the knees," from cneow (see knee (n.)). Similar formation in Middle Low German knelen, Middle Dutch cnielen, Dutch knielen Gothic knussjan. Past tense knelt is a modern formation (19c.) on analogy of feel/felt, etc. Related: Kneeler; kneeling.