prostrator
/prɒˈstreɪtə/ /prəˈstreɪtə/(also prostrater)
noun
A person who prostrates, especially as part of a religious observance; (in the early Orthodox Church) specifically a person belonging to the third order of penitents, permitted to attend services in a kneeling or prostrate position. Compare kneeler, prostrate. Now rare.
- Originally rendering Byzantine Greek: see the etymology..
Origin
Mid 17th century (in an earlier sense). Originally from post-classical Latin prostrator person who overthrows from classical Latin prōstrāt-, past participial stem of prōsternere + -or.