prostration

plural prostrations

1. countableuncountableThe act or condition of prostrating oneself (lying face-down), as a sign of humility.
2. countableuncountableA 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.

   The ordination ceremony includes a variety of rituals, rich in meaning and history, e.g., the prostration, laying on of hands, anointing of hands, giving of the chalice and paten, and sign of peace. — Diocese of Rochester, NY

3. countableuncountableThe state of lying face down (prone).
4. countableuncountableThe condition of being prostrated, as from heat; complete loss of strength.

   I slept after the prostration of the day, with a stringent and profound slumber which not even the nightmares that wrung me could avail to break.

   1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, page 135

5. countableuncountableA reverential bow performed in Middle Eastern cultures.

   Their faith can be seen in their mannerisms on the pitch – cupping hands in silent pre-kick-off prayer or prostration after hitting the back of the net.

   2018 March 1, Tusdiq Din, “Mohamed Salah: Is Liverpool Striker’s Success Improving Engagement with Muslim Fans?”, in BBC Sport

   Synonyms: sujud

1. The 32nd sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.