prostrations
Lying flat reverently
Prostrations are acts of lying flat on the ground, face down, as an expression of reverence, submission, or worship.
The gesture appears in many religious traditions—Muslims prostrate during prayer, Buddhists before shrines, Catholics during ordination rites.
Extended meanings cover any extreme gesture of submission or humility: His prostrations before the boss were embarrassing to watch.
Prostration also describes complete physical or emotional exhaustion: heat prostration, nervous prostration.
Bending forward in deference
- kneelingLowering onto bent legs
- genuflectionKnee-bending act of reverence
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
- namazIslamic ritual prayer
prayer · puja · veneration · reverence · obeisance · ritual · pilgrimage · offering
Bending forward in deference
- kneelingLowering onto bent legs
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- obeisanceGesture of reverence
supplication · surrender · deference · homage · allegiance · fealty · tribute · respect
Sudden structural failure
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- wearinessState of being drained
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- enervationLoss of vigor
debilitation · overexertion · heat stroke · heatstroke · fainting · swooning · breakdown · incapacitation
bowing
Bending forward in deference
- kneelingLowering onto bent legs
- genuflectionKnee-bending act of reverence
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
namaz · prayer · puja · veneration · reverence · obeisance · ritual · pilgrimage · offering · piety
bowing
Bending forward in deference
- kneelingLowering onto bent legs
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
obeisance · supplication · surrender · deference · homage · allegiance · fealty · tribute · respect · honor
collapse
Sudden structural failure
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- wearinessState of being drained
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
enervation · debilitation · overexertion · heat stroke · heatstroke · fainting · swooning · breakdown · incapacitation · weakness
- meditationbreathing meditation, breath, breath meditation, mantra, breathing
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- TibetTibet, Lhasa, Dalai Lama, Tibetan Plateau, Tibetan Buddhism
- Buddhist monasteryabbot, meditation hall, main hall, zendo, dormitory
- Orthodox SpiritualityDesert Fathers, stillness, holy silence, deification, watchfulness
- Tibetan BuddhismBuddha, Tibet, Dalai Lama, lama, lamas
prostrationsstanding
Position, physical or social
standing upright · uprightness · erect posture · standing tall · rising
prostrationsdefiance
Open resistance to authority
insolence · rebellion · arrogance · haughtiness · pride