prostration

American  

[pro-strey-shuhn] / prɒˈstreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of prostrating.

2. the state of being prostrated.

3. extreme mental or emotional depression or dejection.

   nervous prostration.

4. extreme physical weakness or exhaustion.

   heat prostration.

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Etymology

Origin of prostration

1520–30; < Late Latin prōstrātiōn- (stem of prōstrātiō ) a lying prone. See prostrate, -ion

Explanation

If you throw yourself at your mom's feet and beg forgiveness for breaking curfew, that's prostration. Many religious rituals include various forms of prostration, or lying face-downward in a submissive way. When a Catholic kneels to pray in church, or a Muslim bows his head to touch the ground during prayers, it's an act of prostration, or making yourself humble before a god or religious figure. In Hinduism, touching the feet of a guru (or teacher) is a sign of respect, and also a form of prostration. The source of this noun is the adjective prostrate, literally "lying face-down," from the Latin prosternere, "throw down."