Pros"trate (?), a. [L.
prostratus, p. p. of prosternere to prostrate;
pro before, forward + sternere to spread out, throw
down. See Stratum.] 1. Lying at length, or
with the body extended on the ground or other surface; stretched out;
as, to sleep prostrate. Elyot.
Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of
fire.
Milton.
2. Lying at mercy, as a supplicant.
Dryden.
3. Lying in a humble, lowly, or suppliant
posture.
Prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults.
Milton.
4. (Bot.) Trailing on the ground;
procumbent.
Pros"trate (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Prostrated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Prostrating.] 1. To lay fiat; to throw
down; to level; to fell; as, to prostrate the body; to
prostrate trees or plants. Evelyn.
2. to overthrow; to demolish; to destroy; to
deprive of efficiency; to ruin; as, to prostrate a village; to
prostrate a government; to prostrate law or
justice.
3. To throw down, or cause to fall in humility
or adoration; to cause to bow in humble reverence; used reflexively;
as, he prostrated himself. Milman.
4. To cause to sink totally; to deprive of
strength; to reduce; as, a person prostrated by
fever.
