humicubation

plural humicubations

1. countableobsoleteuncountableThe act or practice of lying on the ground.

   For humicubation we have David's example, ‘And David fasted a fast, and went in and lay all night upon the earth.’

   1845, Peter Gunning, The Paschal or Lent Fast Apostolical and Perpetual, Oxford: John Henry Parker, page 147

   2 more examples

   He is afraid, that this Doctrine of fasting, and mourning, and tears, and humicubation, and sackcloth, and ashes, pertaineth to the establishment of Romish pennance.

   1678, John Bramhall, The Works of the most Reverend Father in God, John Bramhall, D.D. The Late Lord Archbishop of Ardmagh, Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland, volume III, Dublin: Benjamin Tooke, page 800

   The χαμολνία, Humicubation, lying upon ground, &c. which things have been overacted, and still are in the Greek and Roman Churches.

   1695, John Whitefoot, A Discourse upon I. Peter IV. VIII., Cambridge: John Hayes, page 16