- prostrate (adj.)
- c.1380, from L. prostratus, pp. of prosternere "strew in front, throw down," from pro- "forth" + sternere "to spread out," from PIE base *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (see structure). The verb is attested from c.1400, from the adj. Prostration "action of prostrating oneself" is from 1526; meaning "weakness, exhaustion, dejection" is from 1651.