prostration
Americannoun
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the act of prostrating.
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the state of being prostrated.
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extreme mental or emotional depression or dejection.
nervous prostration.
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extreme physical weakness or exhaustion.
heat prostration.
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."
Vocabulary lists containing prostration
Dracula
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"Paradise Lost" by John Milton, Book V
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Killers of the Flower Moon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prostration practised at the court of Marocco, 281.
From An Account of Timbuctoo and Housa Territories in the Interior of Africa by Jackson, James Grey
Prostration is the Eastern mode of signifying profound respect, complete submission.
From Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Literature by Ontario. Ministry of Education
Prostration and flattery could not conceal from her the cruel truth, that those whom she had trusted, and promoted had never loved her, and were fast ceasing to fear her.
From Critical and Historical Essays — Volume 2 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron
Prostration, or loss of muscular strength, is present from the beginning in a large number of cases of typhoid fever, but is generally not so marked in the early stages as in typhus fever.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Prostration, Nervous.—The various articles under Nerves and Nervousness should be read.
From Papers on Health by Kirk, Edward Bruce
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
