präˈstrāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from Medieval Latin prostration-, prostratio, from Late Latin, overthrow, defeat, from Latin prostratus (past participle of prosternere ) + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a. : the act of assuming a prostrate position especially as a ceremonial or submissive gesture
a number of young girls enter, make the customary prostration of greeting — Lafcadio Hearn
b. : the state of being in a prostrate position : abasement , submissiveness
2.
a. : complete physical or mental exhaustion : collapse
prostration in influenza
b. : shock , stupefaction
brought no incoherent cry of pity or prostration — C.E.Montague
leaves the lay reader with a sense of prostration — A.G.Mazour
3. : the process of being made powerless or the condition of powerlessness
the prostration of the country before any invading and conquering army — Hilaire Belloc
the general prostration of business after the war — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington