Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Lying face down, especially in submission or adoration: Describes a position where the body is stretched out flat on the ground with the face downward, often as a gesture of respect, worship, or complete defeat.
   • Physically or emotionally exhausted; overcome: Describes a state of being completely drained of strength or vitality, often due to illness, grief, or exertion.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cast (oneself or another) down in a prostrate position: To cause to lie flat on the ground, typically face down.
   • To overcome, render helpless, or subdue completely: To reduce someone or something to a state of powerlessness, exhaustion, or submission.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The pilgrims remained prostrate in prayer for hours. (The pilgrims remained lying face down in prayer for hours.)
  • After the marathon, she was prostrate with fatigue. (After the marathon, she was completely exhausted with fatigue.)

• Verb:

  • The worshippers prostrated themselves before the altar. (The worshippers threw themselves down face down before the altar.)
  • The disease prostrated the entire population. (The disease rendered the entire population helpless.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be/lie prostrate before (someone/something)": To be in a position of complete submission or reverence.
  • The defeated general lay prostrate before the emperor.
• "prostrate with (grief/illness)": Overwhelmed and incapacitated by a strong emotion or physical condition.
  • He was prostrate with grief after the loss.

Variants and Related Words

• Prostration (noun): The act of prostrating oneself; a state of extreme physical or emotional exhaustion.
  • His prostration was a sign of utter devotion.
  • She suffered from nervous prostration.

Synonyms

• Adjective (lying down): Prone, recumbent, flat.
• Adjective (exhausted): Exhausted, spent, drained, overcome.
• Verb (to cast down): Bow, kneel, throw down.
• Verb (to overcome): Overwhelm, subdue, paralyze, incapacitate.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Upright, erect, standing, energetic.
• Verb: Raise, uplift, invigorate.

Related Phrases

• "to prostrate oneself": This reflexive verb phrase is the most common construction, specifically meaning to throw oneself down in a gesture of submission, worship, or respect.
  • It is customary to prostrate oneself in this temple.

Adjective

1. lying face downward
2. stretched out and lying at full length along the ground
   • found himself lying flat on the floor

Verb

1. throw down flat, as on the ground
   • She prostrated herself with frustration
2. render helpless or defenseless
   • They prostrated the enemy
3. get into a prostrate position, as in submission