supine: [15] Supine means literally ‘lying on one’s back’. It comes from Latin supīnus. This was derived from a prehistoric base *sup- ‘up’ which also produced Latin super ‘above, over’ (and summus, source of English sum), so the word’s etymological meaning is presumably ‘with the front of one’s body upwards’. The metaphorical sense ‘inactive’ evolved in Latin. The origins of the use of supine as a noun, to designate a type of ‘verbal noun’, are not known.
supine (adj.)
c. 1500, "lying on the back," from Latin supinus "bent backwards, thrown backwards, lying on the back," figuratively "inactive, indolent," from PIE *(s)up- (see sub-). The grammatical use for "Latin verbal noun formed from the past participle stem" (mid-15c.) is from Late Latin supinum verbum "supine verb," perhaps so called because, though furnished with a noun case ending, it "falls back" on the verb. Related: Supinely.
双语例句
1. I lay supine on the poolside grass.
我仰面躺在游泳池边的草地上。
来自柯林斯例句
2. John is obedient and supine.
约翰顺从而因循.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3. He always sleeps in a supine position.
他总是仰卧而睡.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
4. He may be turned from side to supine to prone position.
他可以从侧卧位转成仰卧位或俯卧位.
来自辞典例句
5. Sebastian had been supine on the sunny seat in the colonnade, as he was now.