procumbent

[ proh-kuhm-buhnt ]

adjective

1. lying on the face; prone; prostrate.
2. Botany. (of a plant or stem) lying along the ground, but not putting forth roots.

procumbent

/ prəʊˈkʌmbənt /

adjective

1. Alsoprostrate (of stems) growing along the ground
2. leaning forwards or lying on the face

Word History and Origins

Origin of procumbent¹

1660–70; < Latin prōcumbent- (stem of prōcumbēns ) bending forward, present participle of prōcumbere. See pro- ¹, incumbent

Word History and Origins

Origin of procumbent¹

C17: from Latin prōcumbere to fall forwards; compare incumbent

Example Sentences

"Somewhat unexpectedly, both pairs of premaxillary teeth project anteriorly and laterally at the base, implying a procumbent nature atypical of tylosaurines," the study reads.

From Fox News

Stems procumbent from a deep biennial root; leaves round-heart-shaped, on very long petioles, crenate, obscurely-lobed; petals twice the length of the calyx, whitish; carpels pubescent, even.—Waysides and cultivated grounds; common.

From Project Gutenberg

Incisors not rooted but continuously growing; those of the upper jaw curved and directed downwards; those of the lower straight and procumbent.

From Project Gutenberg

Skull: Larger in every measurement taken; premaxillae extended farther posteriorly to nasals; extension of supraoccipital posterior to lambdoidal suture markedly less; tympanic bullae actually as well as relatively smaller; upper incisors longer and more procumbent.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves.—Mostly alternate on the flowering stems, but smaller and broader ones often opposite or whorled on the procumbent shoots; linear; smooth.

From Project Gutenberg