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