adj. & v.
adj. 1 a lying face downwards, esp. in submission. b lying horizontally. 2 overcome, esp. by grief, exhaustion, etc. (prostrate with self-pity). 3 Bot. growing along the ground.
v.tr. 1 lay (a person etc.) flat on the ground. 2 (refl.) throw (oneself) down in submission etc. 3 (of fatigue, illness, etc.) overcome; reduce to extreme physical weakness. prostration n.
[ ME f. L prostratus past part. of prosternere (as PRO-(1), sternere strat- lay flat) ]