prostrate

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

PROS'TRATE, adjective [Latin prostratus, from prosterno, to lay flat; pro and sterno.] 1. Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground or other surface. Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire. 2. Lying at mercy, as a supplicant. 3. Lying in the posture of humility of adoration. PROS'TRATE, verb transitive To lay flat; to throw down; as, to prostrate the body; to prostrate trees or plants. 1. To throw down; to overthrow; to demolish; to ruin; as, to prostrate a village; to prostrate a government; to prostrate law or justice; to prostrate the honor of a nation. 2. To prostrate one's self, to throw one's self down or to fall in humility or adoration. 3. To bow in humble reverence. 4. To sink totally; to reduce; as, to prostrate strength.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

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