prone, prostrate, recumbent, supine

prone, prostrate, recumbent, supine
   Supine means lying face upward (it may help to remember that a supine person is on her spine). Prone and prostrate are regarded by most dictionaries and usage authorities, but by no means all, as meaning lying face downward. (A few say that they can also apply to a person or thing lying face up.) Prostrate should, in any case, suggest throwing oneself down, either in submission or for protection; someone who is merely asleep should not be called prostrate. Recumbent means lying flat in any position, but like repose, it should indicate a position of ease and comfort. For the other sense ofprone, see liable, likely, apt, prone.

Dictionary of troublesome word. . 2013.

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  • prone, prostrate, recumbent, supine —    Supine means lying face upward (it may help to remember that a supine person is on her spine). Prone and prostrate are regarded by most dictionaries and usage authorities, but by no means all, as meaning lying face downward. (A few say that… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • prone, prostrate, recumbent, supine —    Supine means lying face upward (it may help to remember that a supine person is on her spine). Prone and prostrate are regarded by most dictionaries and usage authorities, but by no means all, as meaning lying face downward. (A few say that… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • prone, prostrate, recumbent, supine —    Supine means lying face upward (it may help to remember that a supine person is on her spine). Prone and prostrate are regarded by most dictionaries and usage authorities, but by no means all, as meaning lying face downward. (A few say that… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • prone —  , prostrate, recumbent, supine.  Supine means lying faceup (it may help to remember that a supine person is on his spine). Prone and prostrate are regarded by most dictionaries and usage authorities but by no means all as meaning lying facedown …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • prostrate — [adj1] flat, horizontal abject, bowed low, procumbent, prone, reclining, recumbent, supine; concept 583 Ant. erect, straight, upright, vertical prostrate [adj2] helpless beaten, defenseless, disarmed, impotent, open, overcome, overpowered,… …   New thesaurus

  • supine — 1 *prone, prostrate, recumbent, couchant, dormant 2 *inactive, inert, passive, idle Analogous words: slothful, *lazy, indolent, faineant: *lethargic, sluggish, torpid: apathetic, *impassive …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • prone — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) adj. inclined, disposed, likely, predisposed; recumbent, flat, prostrate, horizontal. See possibility. II (Roget s IV) modif. 1. [Inclined] Syn. inclined, predisposed, apt; see likely 4 . 2. [Lying down] …   English dictionary for students

  • prone — 1 subject, exposed, open, iiable, susceptible, sensitive Analogous words: inclined, predisposed, disposed (see INCLINE vb): addicted, habituated, accustomed (see HABITUATE) 2 Prone, supine, prostrate, recumbent, couchant, dormant are comparable… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • supine — [adj1] lying down decumbent, flat, flat on one’s back, horizontal, level, procumbent, prone, prostrate, reclining, recumbent, stretched out; concept 583 supine [adj2] inactive do nothing*, dormant, dull, idle, indolent, inert, lackadaisical, lax …   New thesaurus

  • prone — adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin pronus bent forward, tending; akin to Latin pro forward more at for Date: 14th century 1. having a tendency or inclination ; being likely < prone to forget names > < accident prone > 2. a. having… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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