prostrate
verbEtymology From Middle English prostraten (“(reflexive) to prostrate; (with doun) to fall down in a state of humility or submission”), from prostrat(e) (“prostrate, prostrated”, also used as the past participle of prostraten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin prōstrātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.
1
Often To lie flat or face-down.
2
Also, Figuratively To throw oneself down in submission.
- Those who had the privilege of approaching him, had to prostrate themselves before him in profound humility[…]1922, Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla, Zoroastrian Civilization, page 228:
- But I take the view that the statue is a cheap and cynical stunt by ministers with scant knowledge of history, whose only interest lies in greasing up to modern Indian politicians. With little or no dignity, they shamelessly prostrate themselves in the most craven way.2014 July 10, Stephen Glover, “Sorry, but Gandhi statue in Westminster is a cheap stunt by ministers with scant knowledge of history greasing up to India”, in Daily Mail:
3
To cause to lie down, to flatten.
- How many of these mighty pines were to be prostrated under that approaching tempest!1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter XIV, page 175:
4
Figuratively To overcome or overpower.
- Why this very minute she's prostrated with grief.1936 June 30, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- unprostrated
- Related terms
- prostration, kowtow