Bent on looking humble (5)

I believe the answer is:

bowed

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'bent' is the definition.
(bowing is a kind of bending)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for bowed that I've seen before include "Was on the fiddle" , "Made obeisance" , "Played like a cello" , "violin played thus?" , "Bent (with age)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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