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Dictionary Language resources

supine

Pronunciation: /ˈs(j)uːpʌɪn/

Definition of supine

adjective

1(of a person) lying face upwards .
technical having the front or ventral part upwards.
(of the hand) with the palm upwards.

2failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence:the government was supine in the face of racial injustice

noun

Grammar

a Latin verbal noun used only in the accusative and ablative cases, especially to denote purpose (e.g. mirabile dictu ‘wonderful to relate’).

Derivatives

supinely
supineness

Origin:

late Middle English: the adjective from Latin supinus 'bent backwards' (related to super 'above'); the noun from late Latin supinum, neuter of supinus