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Definition of "prostration" [pros•tra•tion]

  • The act of prostrating oneself. (noun)
  • The state of being prostrate. (noun)
  • Total exhaustion or weakness; collapse. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "prostration" in a sentence
  • "Now this King’s daughter loved the idol and was frequent in prostration to it and assiduous in its service; and she was the fairest woman of her day, accomplished in beauty and loveliness, elegance and grace."
  • "When the King heard this, he bade his son be slain; but on the next day the second Wazir came forward for intercession and kissed ground in prostration."
  • "I know, because in my own case, after a day or two of what you might call prostration, I began to recover."