a. [ L. prostratus, p. p. of prosternere to prostrate; pro before, forward + sternere to spread out, throw down. See Stratum. ]
Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. [ L. prostratio: cf. F. prostration. ]
A greater prostration of reason than of body. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Prostration, in its medical use, is analogous to the state of a spring lying under such a weight that it is incapable of action; while exhaustion is analogous to the state of a spring deprived of its elastic powers. The word, however, is often used to denote any great depression of the vital powers. [ 1913 Webster ]