# prostration

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɹɒsˈtɹeɪʃən/ · frequency rank #85,667

## Definitions
1. The act or condition of prostrating oneself (lying face-down), as a sign of humility.
2. A part of the ordination of Catholic and Orthodox priests, in which the ordinand lies prostrate in a gesture of submission to the will of God.
3. The state of lying face down (prone).
4. The condition of being prostrated, as from heat; complete loss of strength.
5. A reverential bow performed in Middle Eastern cultures.

## Etymology
From Latin prōstrātiō, from prōstrātus, past participle of prōsternō.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prostration