Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'prostrate'

English Word: prostrate

Key Russian Translations:

• Простирающийся [prəsʲtʲɪˈraʊʂːɪjɪsʲ] - [Formal, Adjective form]
• Простираться [prəsʲtʲɪˈraʊʂːət͡sə] - [Informal, Verb form, Used in contexts of submission or extension]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in literary, religious, or medical texts, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian verb conjugations and adjective inflections for accurate usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Простирающийся: [prəsʲtʲɪˈraʊʂːɪjɪsʲ]

Note on Простирающийся: This word features a soft 't' sound (palatalized), which can be challenging for English speakers; stress falls on the third syllable. Variations may occur in dialects.

Простираться: [prəsʲtʲɪˈraʊʂːət͡sə]

Note on Простираться: The reflexive ending '-ся' adds a subtle emphasis on self-action; pronounce the 'r' as a rolled sound in standard Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Lying flat or in submission (Adjective form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Простирающийся - Used in formal or literary contexts to describe something extended or lying flat, such as in religious prostration.

Usage Examples:

• Он лежал простирающийся на земле в молитве.

  He was lying prostrate on the ground in prayer.

• Ветви дерева простирающиеся по земле создают тень.

  The tree branches prostrate on the ground create shade.

• Во время церемонии участники были простирающиеся перед алтарем.

  During the ceremony, participants were prostrate before the altar.

• Его тело было простирающееся после долгого бега.

  His body was prostrate after a long run.

To throw oneself flat or extend (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Простираться - Applied in contexts of self-submission, physical exhaustion, or metaphorical extension, often in narrative or poetic language.

Usage Examples:

• Он решил простираться перед королём в знак покорности.

  He decided to prostrate himself before the king as a sign of submission.

• Река простирается через всю долину, образуя плодородные земли.

  The river prostrates itself across the entire valley, forming fertile lands.

• После болезни она простиралась на кровати, не в силах встать.

  After the illness, she prostrated herself on the bed, unable to get up.

• В моменты отчаяния люди часто простираются в молитве.

  In moments of despair, people often prostrate themselves in prayer.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Простирающийся is an adjective and follows standard Russian adjective inflections based on gender, number, and case. It is a present active participle form and can vary irregularly in some contexts.

Простираться is a verb (infinitive) and conjugates irregularly as a reflexive verb in the imperfective aspect. Example conjugations in present tense:

Note: This verb does not change in perfective forms without context; always use with reflexive particle '-ся'.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: Лежащий (lying), Поклоняющийся (worshipping) - Лежащий is more neutral and everyday, while Поклоняющийся implies reverence.
• Antonyms: Стоящий (standing), Восстающий (rising) - Стоящий is basic, while Восстающий suggests rebellion or recovery.

Related Phrases:

• Простираться перед кем-то - To prostrate oneself before someone (used in formal or religious submission contexts).
• Простирающиеся поля - Prostrate fields (referring to flat, extended landscapes, often in poetic descriptions).
• Простираться в молитве - To prostrate in prayer (common in spiritual or cultural rituals).

Usage Notes:

Простирающийся and Простираться directly correspond to the English "prostrate" in its adjective and verb forms, respectively, but they carry a more poetic or formal tone in Russian. Use Простирающийся for static descriptions (e.g., physical positions) and Простираться for actions involving self-submission. Be mindful of context: in everyday Russian, simpler alternatives like "лежать" (to lie) may be preferred to avoid overly literary language. Grammar note: Always ensure agreement in gender, number, and case for adjectives, and conjugate verbs based on subject for accurate expression.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using Простирающийся without proper inflection, e.g., saying "простирающийся женщина" instead of "простирающаяся женщина". Correct: Ensure feminine form is used for feminine nouns. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun they modify, which English learners often overlook.
• Error: Omitting the reflexive '-ся' in Простираться, e.g., saying "простирать" instead. Correct: Use "простираться" to convey self-action. Explanation: Without '-ся', the verb loses its reflexive meaning, altering the intent from personal submission to a general extension.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like Простираться are often associated with Orthodox Christian traditions, where prostration (поклон) is a physical act of humility during prayer. This reflects historical influences from Byzantine practices, emphasizing spiritual submission over physical exhaustion, which can add deeper emotional or symbolic layers in literature and daily life.

Related Concepts:

• Поклонение (worship)
• Лежать ниц (to lie prostrate)
• Подчинение (submission)