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Webster 1913 Edition


Prostrate

Pros′trate

,
Adj.
[L.
prostratus
, p. p. of
prosternere
to prostrate;
pro
before, forward +
sternere
to spread out, throw down. See
Stratum
.]
1.
Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground or other surface; stretched out;
as, to sleep
prostrate
.
Elyot.
Groveling and
prostrate
on yon lake of fire.
Milton.
2.
Lying at mercy, as a supplicant.
Dryden.
3.
Lying in a humble, lowly, or suppliant posture.
Prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults.
Milton.
4.
(Bot.)
Trailing on the ground; procumbent.

Pros′trate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Prostrated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Prostrating
.]
1.
To lay fiat; to throw down; to level; to fell;
as, to
prostrate
the body; to
prostrate
trees or plants.
Evelyn.
2.
to overthrow; to demolish; to destroy; to deprive of efficiency; to ruin;
as, to
prostrate
a village; to
prostrate
a government; to
prostrate
law or justice.
3.
To throw down, or cause to fall in humility or adoration; to cause to bow in humble reverence; used reflexively;
as, he
prostrated
himself
.
Milman.
4.
To cause to sink totally; to deprive of strength; to reduce;
as, a person
prostrated
by fever
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Prostrate

PROS'TRATE

,
Adj.
[L. 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.
T.
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.