Prosterné (en. Prostrate)

/pʁɔstɛʁne/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
verb
To kneel or prostrate oneself as a sign of respect or humility.
He prostrated himself before the king.
Il s'est prosterné devant le roi.
To completely yield to the will of another person or to an ideology.
She prostrated herself before her professional opportunities.
Elle s'est prosternée devant ses opportunités professionnelles.
To suffer or be overwhelmed by an illness or difficulty.
He is prostrated by fatigue after a long day at work.
Il est prosterné par la fatigue après une longue journée de travail.

Etymology

From the Latin 'prosternere' which means 'to bring down, to lay on the ground'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

to prostrate oneself before someone
To show great deference or submission to an authority.
se prosterner devant quelqu'un
to prostrate oneself on the ground
To bow down until the forehead touches the ground in a sign of respect.
se prosterner à terre

Related Words

prostration
State of physical or mental collapse.
prostration
adoration
The act of offering worship or great respect.
adoration
humility
The quality of someone who considers themselves small or inferior.
humilité

Slang Meanings

To lower oneself to someone else's level
After losing the debate, he really had to prostrate himself before his opponents.
Après avoir perdu le débat, il a vraiment dû se prosterné devant ses adversaires.
To show excessive devotion
She prostrates herself before celebrities on social media.
Elle se prosterne devant les célébrités sur les réseaux sociaux.