prostration
UK[prɒˈstreɪʃn]US[prɑːˈstreɪʃn]
n
The action of lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward, especially as a sign of submission, worship, or physical exhaustion.
n
A state of extreme physical weakness or emotional exhaustion.
Morpheme Breakdown
pro
strat
ion
pro
forward/down
strat
spread out
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "prostration" originates from the Latin verb prosternere, meaning "to throw down flat." This verb is a compound of the prefix pro- ("forward" or "down") and sternere ("to spread out, lay low"). The core image is one of casting oneself down, spreading one's body forward onto the ground. Over time, this literal sense of physical abasement in worship or submission evolved metaphorically to describe a state of being laid low by illness, grief, or extreme fatigue, capturing the essence of being utterly overcome.
Analysis
Structure: pro (forward/down) + strat (spread out) + ion (noun suffix)
- pro: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "forward," "forth," or "down."
- strat: From Latin sternere (to spread out, lay down), specifically its past participle stem strat-.
- ion: Latin suffix forming nouns denoting action or condition.
Examples
The pilgrims performed acts of prostration before the sacred relic.
After the marathon, he was in a state of complete physical prostration.
The emotional prostration following her loss took months to overcome.