The phrase "fell prostrate" refers to someone who has fallen down in a position of complete submission or surrender. The word "fell" is pronounced /fɛl/, with a short e sound and a silent l. The word "prostrate" is pronounced /prɒˈstreɪt/, with a long o sound and a stress on the second syllable. The spelling of this phrase is meant to convey the idea of a sudden and forceful physical collapse, and the use of IPA phonetic transcription can help clarify the pronunciation for those who are unfamiliar with the word.
"Fell prostrate" is an idiomatic expression that refers to physical or metaphorical acts of complete surrender or submission. The term combines the verb "fell," which here means to be brought down or thrown to the ground forcefully, and the adjective "prostrate," meaning lying flat on the ground face down, showing complete helplessness, humility, or reverence.
In a literal sense, "fell prostrate" describes a person who has fallen forward and lies flat on the ground, typically laying prone with their face, belly, or entire body pressed against the floor. This physical posture signifies an extreme form of submission, surrender, or reverence, often in religious or ceremonial contexts. For instance, it can depict an individual humbling themselves before a higher power, such as in acts of worship or penitence.
Metaphorically, "fell prostrate" can depict a state of complete emotional or mental surrender, overwhelming defeat, or utter helplessness. It implies a loss of control or power, where one is brought to their knees or rendered completely powerless by the circumstances or an overriding force. This could be used to describe a person or a group that has been utterly defeated in a battle, rendered incapable of resisting or defending themselves.
Overall, "fell prostrate" captures the imagery of an individual or group being forcefully brought down to a prone position, expressing complete submission, surrender, weakness, and vulnerability, either physically or metaphorically.
The word "prostrate" has Latin origins. It comes from the Latin word "prosternere", which is a combination of "pro" meaning "forward" or "forth" and "sternere" meaning "to stretch out" or "lay flat". In its original sense, "prostrate" meant to lie flat, face down on the ground, especially as an act of submission or reverence.
The word "fell" has Old English origins and has a slightly different meaning. It comes from the Old English word "feallan", which means "to fall". Over time, "fell" evolved to mean "to cause to fall" or "to knock down".
When used together, "fell prostrate" means to fall or throw oneself down flat, often in a position of submission, surrender, or physical weakness.