Prostration

Prostration
Prostration Pros*tra"tion, n. [L. prostratio: cf. F. prostration.] 1. The act of prostrating, throwing down, or laying fiat; as, the prostration of the body. [1913 Webster]

2. The act of falling down, or of bowing in humility or adoration; primarily, the act of falling on the face, but usually applied to kneeling or bowing in reverence and worship. [1913 Webster]

A greater prostration of reason than of body. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. The condition of being prostrate; great depression; lowness; dejection; as, a postration of spirits. ``A sudden prostration of strength.'' --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]

4. (Med.) A latent, not an exhausted, state of the vital energies; great oppression of natural strength and vigor. [1913 Webster]

Note: Prostration, in its medical use, is analogous to the state of a spring lying under such a weight that it is incapable of action; while exhaustion is analogous to the state of a spring deprived of its elastic powers. The word, however, is often used to denote any great depression of the vital powers. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • prostration — Prostration …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • prostration — [ prɔstrasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1300 « prosternation »; lat. prostratio, de prostratus, p. p. de prosternere 1 ♦ Relig. Attitude liturgique qui consiste à s étendre entièrement sur le sol, face contre terre, après s être agenouillé. ⇒ prosternation. 2 ♦… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Prostration — is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position. Major world religions employ prostration either as an act of submissiveness to God or gods, or as a means of embodying reverence for a noble person, persons or… …   Wikipedia

  • prostration — I noun abasement, bow, breakdown, cataclysm, collapse, consumption, debility, decay, decrepitude, defeat, dejection, demolition, depression, desolation, despair, despondency, destruction, distress, downfall, downthrow, enervation, exhaustion,… …   Law dictionary

  • prostration — (n.) c.1400, action of prostrating oneself, from PROSTRATE (Cf. prostrate) + ION (Cf. ion). Meaning weakness, exhaustion, dejection is from 1650s …   Etymology dictionary

  • prostration — [präs trā′shən] n. [LL prostratio] 1. a prostrating or being prostrated 2. utter physical or mental exhaustion or helplessness …   English World dictionary

  • Prostration — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Prostration (homonymie). En médecine, la prostration est un état de faiblesse et de fatigue extrêmes qui se manifeste par l effondrement des fonctions musculaires du patient et par son immobilité. La prostration… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • prostration — /pro stray sheuhn/, n. 1. the act of prostrating. 2. the state of being prostrated. 3. extreme mental or emotional depression or dejection: nervous prostration. 4. extreme physical weakness or exhaustion: heat prostration. [1520 30; < LL… …   Universalium

  • PROSTRATION — s. f. Il signifie la même chose que Prosternation. Voyez ce mot. PROSTRATION, en termes de Médecine, Affaiblissement extrême, abattement. Cet accès fut suivi d une grande prostration de forces …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • Prostration — ◆ Pro|stra|ti|on auch: Prost|ra|ti|on 〈f. 20〉 1. 〈geh.〉 Kniefall 2. 〈Med.〉 Erschöpfung [<lat. prostratio „das Niederwerfen“; <pro „für“ + stratus, Part. Perf. von sternere „hinbreiten, hinstreuen“] ◆ Die Buchstabenfolge pro|st... kann in… …   Universal-Lexikon

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