Hypertext Webster Gateway: "prostrate"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prostrate \Pros"trate\, a. [L. prostratus, p. p. of prosternere
to prostrate; pro before, forward + sternere to spread out,
throw down. See {Stratum}.]
1. Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground
or other surface; stretched out; as, to sleep prostrate.
--Elyot.
Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire.
--Milton.
2. Lying at mercy, as a supplicant. --Dryden.
3. Lying in a humble, lowly, or suppliant posture.
Prostrate fall Before him reverent, and there
confess Humbly our faults. --Milton.
4. (Bot.) Trailing on the ground; procumbent.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prostrate \Pros"trate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prostrated}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Prostrating}.]
1. To lay fiat; to throw down; to level; to fell; as, to
prostrate the body; to prostrate trees or plants.
--Evelyn.
2. to overthrow; to demolish; to destroy; to deprive of
efficiency; to ruin; as, to prostrate a village; to
prostrate a government; to prostrate law or justice.
3. To throw down, or cause to fall in humility or adoration;
to cause to bow in humble reverence; used reflexively; as,
he prostrated himself. --Milman.
4. To cause to sink totally; to deprive of strength; to
reduce; as, a person prostrated by fever.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
prostrate
adj 1: stretched out and lying at full length along the ground;
"found himself lying flat on the floor" [syn: {flat}]
2: lying face downward [syn: {prone}]
v 1: get into a prostrate position, as in submission [syn: {bow
down}]
2: render helpless or defenseless; "They prostrated the enemy"
3: throw down flat, as on the ground; "She prostrated herself
with frustration"
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