prostrate

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈpɹɑstɹeɪt/ UK /ˈpɹɒstɹeɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #36817

Meanings

1

adj
Lying flat on the ground, usually face down.

The worshippers lay prostrate before the altar.
2

verb
To throw yourself flat on the ground, often to show respect or submission.

The pilgrims prostrated themselves before the shrine.
3

adj
Completely overcome by illness, heat, or grief.

She was prostrate with grief after hearing the news.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lying flat on the ground,... prone flat

2 verb · to throw yourself flat on... grovel

Word family

Forms prostratedprostratesprostrating

Derived forms deprostrateprostratelyprostraterunprostrated

Related forms kowtow prostration

Etymology

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.

prostraten Middle English prōstrātus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# prostrate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɹɑstɹeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɹɒstɹeɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 36817

## Meanings
1. Lying flat on the ground, usually face down.
2. To throw yourself flat on the ground, often to show respect or submission.
3. Completely overcome by illness, heat, or grief.

## Examples
- The worshippers lay prostrate before the altar.
- The pilgrims prostrated themselves before the shrine.
- She was prostrate with grief after hearing the news.

## Derived Forms
- deprostrate
- prostrately
- prostrater
- unprostrated

## Related Forms
- kowtow
- prostration

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: prostraten
- Root: prōstrātus

## Etymology
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.

## AI Etymology
Prostrate is 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. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include prostraten (Middle English) and prōstrātus (Latin). Current senses include lying flat on the ground, usually face down and to throw yourself flat on the ground, often to show respect or submission. The wider family includes derived forms such as deprostrate, prostrately, prostrater, and unprostrated; related words such as kowtow and prostration.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown