21 uses
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Definition
lying down - typically face downward on the ground as in submission
- Prostrate on earth their beauteous bodies lay, Like mountain firs, as tall and straight as they.Book 5 (62% in)
- But first, and loudest, to your prince declare (That lawless tyrant whose commands you bear), Unmoved as death Achilles shall remain, Though prostrate Greece shall bleed at every vein: The raging chief in frantic passion lost, Blind to himself, and useless to his host, Unskill'd to judge the future by the past, In blood and slaughter shall repent at last."Book 1 (58% in)
- Thus to the experienced prince Atrides cried; He shook his hoary locks, and thus replied: "Well might I wish, could mortal wish renew(134) That strength which once in boiling youth I knew; Such as I was, when Ereuthalion, slain Beneath this arm, fell prostrate on the plain.Book 4 (60% in)
- Just then gigantic Periphas lay slain, The strongest warrior of the AEtolian train; The god, who slew him, leaves his prostrate prize Stretch'd where he fell, and at Tydides flies.Book 5 (93% in)
- ...flocks the Trojans in their wall Inclosed had bled: but Jove with awful sound Roll'd the big thunder o'er the vast profound: Full in Tydides' face the lightning flew; The ground before him flamed with sulphur blue; The quivering steeds fell prostrate at the sight; And Nestor's trembling hand confess'd his fright: He dropp'd the reins: and, shook with sacred dread, Thus, turning, warn'd the intrepid Diomed: "O chief! too daring in thy friend's defence Retire advised, and urge the...Book 8 (26% in)
- Shall see his bloody spoils in triumph borne, With this keen javelin shall his breast be gored, And prostrate heroes bleed around their lord.Book 8 (94% in)
- Ranged in three lines they view the prostrate band: The horses yoked beside each warrior stand.Book 10 (80% in)
- But now (what time in some sequester'd vale The weary woodman spreads his sparing meal, When his tired arms refuse the axe to rear, And claim a respite from the sylvan war; But not till half the prostrate forests lay Stretch'd in long ruin, and exposed to day) Then, nor till then, the Greeks' impulsive might Pierced the black phalanx, and let in the light.Book 11 (16% in)
- (223) As when some huntsman, with a flying spear, From the blind thicket wounds a stately deer; Down his cleft side, while fresh the blood distils, He bounds aloft, and scuds from hills to hills, Till life's warm vapour issuing through the wound, Wild mountain-wolves the fainting beast surround: Just as their jaws his prostrate limbs invade, The lion rushes through the woodland shade, The wolves, though hungry, scour dispersed away; The lordly savage vindicates his prey.Book 11 (63% in)
- O'er heapy shields, and o'er the prostrate throng, Collecting spoils, and slaughtering all along, Through wide Buprasian fields we forced the foes, Where o'er the vales the Olenian rocks arose; Till Pallas stopp'd us where Alisium flows.Book 11 (90% in)
- Prostrate he falls; his clanging arms resound, And his broad buckler thunders on the ground.Book 13 (26% in)
- So lies great Hector prostrate on the shore; His slacken'd hand deserts the lance it bore; His following shield the fallen chief o'erspread; Beneath his helmet dropp'd his fainting head; His load of armour, sinking to the ground, Clanks on the field, a dead and hollow sound.Book 14 (80% in)
- The victor leaps upon his prostrate prize: Thus on a roe the well-breath'd beagle flies, And rends his side, fresh-bleeding with the dart The distant hunter sent into his heart.Book 15 (77% in)
- The insulting victor with disdain bestrode The prostrate prince, and on his bosom trod; Then drew the weapon from his panting heart, The reeking fibres clinging to the dart; From the wide wound gush'd out a stream of blood, And the soul issued in the purple flood.Book 16 (60% in)
- Then rushing sudden on his prostrate prize, To spoil the carcase fierce Patroclus flies: Swift as a lion, terrible and bold, That sweeps the field, depopulates the fold; Pierced through the dauntless heart, then tumbles slain, And from his fatal courage finds his bane.Book 16 (87% in)
- The squire, who saw expiring on the ground His prostrate master, rein'd the steeds around; His back, scarce turn'd, the Pelian javelin gored, And stretch'd the servant o'er his dying lord.Book 20 (96% in)
- The stunning stroke his stubborn nerves unbound: Loud o'er the fields his ringing arms resound: The scornful dame her conquest views with smiles, And, glorying, thus the prostrate god reviles: "Hast thou not yet, insatiate fury! known How far Minerva's force transcends thy own?Book 21 (67% in)
- Around the hero's prostrate body flow'd, In one promiscuous stream, the reeking blood.Book 23 (7% in)
- Unseen by these, the king his entry made: And, prostrate now before Achilles laid, Sudden (a venerable sight!Book 24 (59% in)
- "For him through hostile camps I bent my way, For him thus prostrate at thy feet I lay; Large gifts proportion'd to thy wrath I bear; O hear the wretched, and the gods revere!Book 24 (62% in)
- Then with his hand (as prostrate still he lay) The old man's cheek he gently turn'd away.Book 24 (64% in)
There are no more uses of "prostrate" in The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Pope).
Typical Usage
(best examples)