prostration

/prostration/

Thân thiện

The monk performs a deep prostration on the temple floor.

Definition

Noun 1. The act of lying flat with the face downward, typically in submission, reverence, or adoration. 2. A state of extreme physical exhaustion, weakness, or collapse. 3. A state of being emotionally overwhelmed, submissive, or dejected; abject submission.

Usage and Examples

• Physical Position or Act:
  • The pilgrims performed prostration as part of their prayer ritual.
  • In some cultures, prostration before a king was a sign of total obedience.
• Physical Exhaustion:
  • After running the marathon, he was in a state of complete prostration and could not move.
  • The illness left her in a condition of nervous prostration.
• Emotional Submission or Dejection:
  • His prostration before the committee, begging for forgiveness, was pitiful to see.
  • The team's prostration after the devastating loss was evident in their silence.

Advanced Usage

• "Heat prostration": A medical condition caused by overexposure to high temperatures, leading to extreme fatigue, dizziness, and sometimes collapse; a form of heat illness.
  • Several hikers suffered from heat prostration during the desert trek.
• "Nervous prostration": An older term for a state of severe mental and physical exhaustion, often akin to a nervous breakdown.
  • The constant stress led to a period of nervous prostration.

Variants and Related Words

• Prostrate (verb): To lay oneself flat on the ground face downward, especially in reverence or submission.
  • They prostrated themselves before the altar.
• Prostrate (adjective): Lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward; physically or emotionally exhausted.
  • She was prostrate with grief.
• Prostrationism (noun): A rare term referring to the practice of prostration.

Synonyms

• For the act/position: Genuflection, bowing, obeisance.
• For exhaustion: Collapse, breakdown, fatigue, lassitude, depletion.
• For submission: Submissiveness, deference, resignation, surrender.

Antonyms

• For the act/position: Standing, rising, defiance.
• For exhaustion: Energy, vigor, strength, vitality.
• For submission: Defiance, resistance, rebellion.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "To fall into prostration": To suddenly become extremely exhausted or emotionally overwhelmed.
• "A gesture of prostration": An act symbolizing complete humility or surrender.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of assuming a prostrate position
2. abject submission; the emotional equivalent of prostrating your body
3. an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
   • the commander's prostration demoralized his men

Từ đồng nghĩa

• collapse