Supine — Su pine, n. [L. supinum (sc. verbum), from supinus bent or thrown backward, perhaps so called because, although furnished with substantive case endings, it rests or falls back, as it were, on the verb: cf. F. supin.] (Lat. Gram.) A verbal noun;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
supine — (adj.) c.1500, from L. supinus turned or thrown backwards, inactive, indolent, related to sub under. The grammatical use for Latin verbal noun formed from the past participle stem is from L.L. supinum verbum supine verb, perhaps so called because … Etymology dictionary
supine — [adj1] lying down decumbent, flat, flat on one’s back, horizontal, level, procumbent, prone, prostrate, reclining, recumbent, stretched out; concept 583 supine [adj2] inactive do nothing*, dormant, dull, idle, indolent, inert, lackadaisical, lax … New thesaurus
supine — index inactive, indolent, insensible, languid, lifeless (dull), otiose, passive, phlegmatic … Law dictionary
supine — 1 *prone, prostrate, recumbent, couchant, dormant 2 *inactive, inert, passive, idle Analogous words: slothful, *lazy, indolent, faineant: *lethargic, sluggish, torpid: apathetic, *impassive … New Dictionary of Synonyms
supine — see prone … Modern English usage
supine — ► ADJECTIVE 1) lying face upwards. 2) failing to act as a result of laziness or lack of courage; passive. DERIVATIVES supinely adverb supineness noun. ORIGIN Latin supinus bent backwards … English terms dictionary
supine — [so͞o pīn′; ] also, and for n. always [, so͞o′pīn΄] adj. [L supinus, prob. akin to sub : see SUB ] 1. lying on the back, face upward 2. with the palm upward or away from the body: said of the hand 3. Old Poet. leaning or sloping backward 4.… … English World dictionary
Supine — In grammar a supine is a form of verbal noun used in some languages. In Latin In Latin there are two supines, I and II. They are originally the accusative and dative or ablative forms of verbal noun in the fourth declension, respectively. The… … Wikipedia
supine — [[t]su͟ːpaɪn[/t]] 1) ADJ If you are supine, you are lying flat on your back. [FORMAL] ...bedridden persons confined to the supine position. ...a statue of a supine dog. ADV: ADV after v Supine is also an adverb. I lay supine on the poolside grass … English dictionary
