Dictionary

supine en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈs(j)uːpaɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsuˈpaɪn/ (General-American)
• /ˈsuˌpaɪn/ (General-American)

Etymology

The adjective is borrowed from Latin supīnus, from *sup- (see sub (“under”)) + -īnus (“of, pertaining to”). The word is cognate with Catalan supí, Italian supino, Old French sovin, Middle French souvin, Anglo-Norman supin, Old Occitan sobin, sopin, Portuguese supino, Spanish supino. Partly displaced Old English upweard (“upward, supine”), whence Modern English upward. The noun is from Late Middle English supin (“supine of a Latin verb”) or Middle French supin (“(grammar) supine”), from Latin supīnum, (ellipsis of supīnum verbum (“supine verb”)), from supīnus; further etymology above.

Meanings

1. Lying on its back.
   • Poor Pnin had come down the last steps on his back. He lay supine for a moment, his eyes moving to and fro. 1957 March 7, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 4.8, in Pnin, Heinemann, page 108:
   • Posterior displacement of the sternum can produce a deformity of the heart, particularly anterior indentation of the right ventricle. [...] The physical work capacity in pectus excavatum at a given heart rate was significantly lower in the sitting than the supine position. 2009, Robert C. Shamberger, “Chest Wall Deformities”, in Thomas W. Shields, Joseph LoCicero III, Carolyn E. Reed, Richard H. Feins, editors, General Thoracic Surgery, 7th edition, volume I, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Wolters Kluwer, →ISBN, part A (The Lung, Pleura, Diaphragm, and Chest Wall), section IX (The Chest Wall), page 603, column 1:
   • Data, in part previously reported by this laboratory (2, 9), on the effects of mannitol loads in supine subjects, and of saline infusions in both supine and standing subjects, have also been used in the construction of Table III and Figures 1 and 2. 1973 January 26, Paul C. Walter, Jon E. Villaume, Thomas J. Taylor, Phosphates: A Monograph (GRAS Monograph Series; nos. 86–88), [Philadelphia, Pa.?]: Franklin Institute Research Laboratories, →OCLC, page 16:
2. Of the hand, forearm or foot, turned facing toward the body or upward: with the thumb outward (palm up), or with the big toe raised relative to the little toe.
   • when one is washing one’s face, the hand is in the supine position; and then the forearm is also in the supine position; when the foot is resting on the outer side of the sole, it is in the supine position
3. (figuratively) Reluctant to take action due to indifference or moral weakness; apathetic or passive towards something.
   • In A v. UK, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that Part 4 of the 2001 Act [the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001] was not a strictly necessary response to the acknowledged emergency evidenced by the attacks in the USA and that the detention of the applicants was in breach of Article 5 [of the European Convention on Human Rights]. This conclusion is noteworthy given that the European Court has in the past adopted a deferential if not supine approach when assessing the legality of derogations under Article 15. 2009 July, Mark Elliott, “Torture, Deportation and Extra-judicial Detention: Instruments of the ‘War on Terror’”, in Cambridge Law Journal, volume 68, number 2, →DOI, pages 245 at 245–246:
   • Such corruption is commonplace in a world of supine civil servants and underfunded ministries.
   • In times of inſurrection or invaſion it would be natural and proper that the militia of a neighbouring ſtate ſhould be marched into another to reſiſt a common enemy or to guard the republic againſt the violences of faction or ſedition. [...] If the power of affording it be placed under the direction of the Union, there will be no danger of a ſupine and liſtleſs inattention to the dangers of a neighbour, till its near approach had ſuperadded the incitements of ſelf preſervation to the too feeble impulſes of duty and ſympathy. 1788, Publius [pseudonym; Alexander Hamilton], “Number XXIX. Concerning the Militia.”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume I, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC, page 184:
   • [W]hen Man was fallen, and had abandoned his primitive Innocence, [...] he became puſillanimous, and was eaſily ruffled with every little Paſſion within: ſupine, and as openly expoſed to any Temptation or Aſſault from without. 1695, John Woodward, “Part II. Concerning the Universal Deluge. That These Marine Bodies were then Left at Land. The Effects It Had upon the Earth.”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: […], London: Printed for Ric[hard] Wilkin […], →OCLC, pages 85–86:
   • The Academics talk always of Doubts and ſuſpense of Judgment, of Danger in haſty Determinations, of confining to the very narrow Bounds the Enquiries of the Understanding, and of renouncing all Speculations that lie not within the Limits of common Life and Practice. Nothing, therefore, can be more contrary than ſuch a Philoſophy to the ſupine Indolence of the Mind, its raſh Arrogance, its lofty Pretenſions, and its ſuperſtitious Credulity. 1748, [David Hume], “Essay V. Sceptical Solution of These Doubts.”, in Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, part I, page 70:
   • A single slice of this could leave you supine in front of the Queen's speech without even the wherewithal to reach for the remote control. 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 02 Jan 2018:
   • While they ultimately came to the same conclusion, the pre-emptive tweet made it harder to rebut the court's judgment that they were “supine servants of an overweening master”. 2024 May 18, Tabby Kinder, Stephen Morris, “Tesla chair on Musk: ‘I might wake up to a tweet. I don’t wake up to a strategy shift’”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 15:
4. (poetic, rare) Inclining or leaning backward; inclined, sloping.
   • But if the Vine / On riſing Ground be plac'd, or Hills ſupine, / Extend thy looſe Battalions largely wide, / Opening thy Ranks and Files on either Side: [...] 1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 82, lines 372–375:

Forms

Antonyms

prone · nonsupine · prostrate · prone

Deriveds

supinator · non-supine · supinely · supine hypotensive syndrome · semi-supine · supinity · supination · supinate · nonsupine · supineness · supinated · semisupine

Relateds

resupine

Synonyms

insouciant · ineffervescible · listless · nonchalant · lukewarm · spiritless · sloping · torpid · dull · unlively · torpedinous · dispassionate · listless · apathetic · tepid · blithe · untouched · adiaphroistic · insensible · languid · gallionic · uncaring · passive · world-weary · jaded · languorous · lotophagous · Laodicean · lethargic · halfhearted · reclined · unzealous · inclined · blasé · unaroused · uninterested · unimpressible · otiose · mopey · lazy · impassive · lethargic · nonplussed · supine · peaceful · heartless · shiftless · enervated · unmoved · deaf · cool · apathistical · unconcerned · phlegmatic · indifferent · lackadaisical · pococurante · unenthusiastic · meh

Translations (64)

vi ngả (lying on its back) · hu tétlen (reluctant to take action) · he פְּרַקְדָּן (lying on its back) · el ύπτιος (lying on its back) · es espalditendido (lying on its back) · hu közönyös (reluctant to take action) · eo senmova (reluctant to take action) · cs laxní (reluctant to take action) · is útafliggjandi (lying on its back) · nl geneigd (inclining or leaning backward) · pt inclinado (inclining or leaning backward) · is á bakinu (lying on its back) · pt letárgico (reluctant to take action) · it supino (lying on its back) · fi passiivinen (reluctant to take action) · uk лежачий горілиць (lying on its back) · es supino (lying on its back) · eo letargia (reluctant to take action) · nl passief (reluctant to take action) · eo surdorse kuŝanta (lying on its back) · nl onverschillig (reluctant to take action) · fi selällään makaava (lying on its back) · fi vetelä (reluctant to take action) · pl bezwolny (reluctant to take action) · th หงาย (lying on its back) · uz chalqanchasiga (lying on its back) · ru лежа́щий на спине́ (lying on its back) · is liggja upp í loft (lying on its back) · ro letargic (reluctant to take action) · cs pasivní (reluctant to take action) · sip གང་རྐྱལ (lying on its back) · fi veltto (reluctant to take action) · ro pasiv (reluctant to take action) · hu háton/hátán/hanyatt fekvő (lying on its back) · fr supinal (lying on its back) · nl in rugligging (lying on its back) · bg инертен (reluctant to take action) · ang upweard (lying on its back) · tl tihaya (lying on its back) · sv på rygg (lying on its back) · vi ngửa (lying on its back) · cs ležící naznak (lying on its back) · uk лежачий на спині (lying on its back) · pt passivo (reluctant to take action) · grc ὕπτιος (lying on its back) · bg лежащ по гръб (lying on its back) · fi kallellaan (inclining or leaning backward) · hu passzív (reluctant to take action) · bcl tigaya (lying on its back) · uk бездіяльний (reluctant to take action) · uk лежачий навзнак (lying on its back) · uk ледачий (reluctant to take action) · la supīnus (lying on its back) · ru лежа́щий на́взничь (lying on its back) · nl lethargisch (reluctant to take action) · pt supino (lying on its back) · pam sakinda (lying on its back) · bg бездеен (reluctant to take action) · es indolente (reluctant to take action) · cs ležící na zádech (lying on its back) · de in Rückenlage (lying on its back) · eo klina (inclining or leaning backward) · vi ngả lưng (lying on its back) · fi saamaton (reluctant to take action)

wikipedia: John Glenn

supine en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈs(j)uːpaɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsuˈpaɪn/ (General-American)
• /ˈsuˌpaɪn/ (General-American)

Etymology

The adjective is borrowed from Latin supīnus, from *sup- (see sub (“under”)) + -īnus (“of, pertaining to”). The word is cognate with Catalan supí, Italian supino, Old French sovin, Middle French souvin, Anglo-Norman supin, Old Occitan sobin, sopin, Portuguese supino, Spanish supino. Partly displaced Old English upweard (“upward, supine”), whence Modern English upward. The noun is from Late Middle English supin (“supine of a Latin verb”) or Middle French supin (“(grammar) supine”), from Latin supīnum, (ellipsis of supīnum verbum (“supine verb”)), from supīnus; further etymology above.

Meanings

1. (also, attributive) In Latin and other languages: a type of verbal noun used in the ablative and accusative cases, which shares the same stem as the passive participle.
   • If you must know, the verb finite (i.e. limited by person and number) has three persons, two numbers, six tenses and three moods, while the verb infinite (not so limited) has infinitives, three participles, the gerund and gerundive and two supines. 2013, Emma Short, Alex George, “The Verb (Stearn, pp. 130–139)”, in A Primer of Botanical Latin with Vocabulary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 47:
   • Of the large number of verbs which take the infinitive in Old-English the greater number are now followed by the supine. […] The substitution of the supine for the infinitive began in Old-English itself. Thus the supine of purpose, as in hīe cōmon þæt land tō sċēawienne 'they came to spy out the land,' gradually supplanted the older infinitive with many verbs of desiring, intending, attempting, etc., so that while such a verb as willan 'will' continued—as it still does in modern English—to take the infinitive only, other verbs of similar meaning, […] began to take the supine as well as the infinitive. 1898, Henry Sweet, “Verbs”, in A New English Grammar: Logical and Historical (Clarendon Press Series), part II (Syntax), Oxford: At the Clarendon Press [by Horace Hart], →OCLC, §§ 2314 and 2315, page 118:
   • There be alſo appertaining unto Verbs, two Supines, the one ending in um, which is called the firſt Supine, becauſe it hath the ſignification of the Verb Active: as, Eo amatum, I go to love: and the other in u, becauſe it hath for the moſt part the ſignification of Paſſive, as Difficilis amatu, hard to be loved. 1718, Richard Johnson, “Of Supines”, in Grammatical Commentaries: Being an Apparatus to a New National Grammar: […], London: Printed for the author, and sold by Thomas Bickerton, […], →OCLC, page 354:
   • The chapter focuses on the supine clause, which is a language-specific construction. An example is offered in (1): the aspectual verb isprăvi 'finish' selects a clausal complement that contains a supine verb. We know that the supine is a verb because its direct object is in unmarked Case (i.e. Accusative). Supine nouns, like any regular noun, have the direct object marked for Genitive Case. […] The emergence and the spread of the supine clause is very well captured in the Old Romanian texts, a situation that contrasts with the incomplete information we have about other clausal complements. 2016, Virginia Hill, Gabriela Albiou, “Supine Clauses: On the Road to Balkanization”, in Verb Movement and Clause Structure in Old Romanian (Oxford Studies in Diachronic & Historical Linguistics), Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 267:
   • And here also you may observ, that the syllable which is doubled in the Preterperfect tens is not doubled in the Supines, as totondi to clip, make's tonsum: cecídi to beat, cæsum: […] 1653, Charles Hoole, “Of the Supines of Simple Verbs”, in The Latine Grammar Fitted for the Use of Schools. […], 2nd corrected edition, London: Printed by William Du-Gard; and are to bee sold by John Saywell […], →OCLC, page 142:
2. (also, attributive) In Swedish, Faroese, Icelandic and Old Norse: a verb form that combines with an inflection of ha/hafa/hava to form the present perfect and pluperfect tenses.
   • There are two non-finite forms in Swedish, the infinitive and the supine. […] The supine has two basic allomorphs: -t (weak verbs) and -it (strong verbs). […] The supine verb phrase serves as complement of the perfect auxiliary ha 'have' (hon hade bundit honom) which can be deleted, though, in subordinate clauses (eftersom hon [hade] bundit honom 'since she had bound him'). (The supine has existed as a morphologically distinct category in standard Swedish language at least since the 19th c.; cf. art. 155.) 2005, Ulf Teleman, “The Standard Languages and Their Systems in the 20th Century IV: Swedish”, in Herbert Ernst Wiegand, editor, The Nordic Languages: An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages (Händbucher zur Sprach- und Kommunikationswissenschaft [Handbooks of Linguistics and Communication Science]; 22.2), volume 2, Berlin; New York, N.Y.: Walter de Gruyter, →ISBN, part XVI (The Nordic Languages in the 20th Century), pages 1613–1614:
   • The three conjugations are distinguished principally by the ending of the supine. In the first conjugation the supine ends in at, as: tala speak talat spoken. In the second conjugation the supine ends in t after a consonant, as: köpa buy köpt bought. In the third conjugation the supine ends in it, as: taga take tagit taken. [1849], A[lfred] May, “Etymology”, in A Practical Grammar of the Swedish Language, with Reading- and Writing-exercises, Stockholm: A. Bonnier, →OCLC, page 42:
3. (also, attributive) (obsolete terminology) The 'to'-prefixed infinitive in English or other Germanic languages, so named because the infinitive was regarded as a verbal noun and the 'to'-prefixed form of it was seen as the dative form of the verbal noun; the full infinitive.

Forms

Deriveds

supine tense

Relateds

gerund · infinitive

Translations (25)

nl supinum (verbal noun) · es supino (verbal noun) · ca supí (verbal noun) · el σουπίνο (verbal noun) · fi supiini (verbal noun) · pt supino (verbal noun) · pl supinum (verbal noun) · fr supin (verbal noun) · cs dostižník (verbal noun) · de Supinum (verbal noun) · ja スピーヌム (verbal noun) · it supino (verbal noun) · ru супи́н (verbal noun) · sl namenilnik (verbal noun) · io supino (verbal noun) · be супі́н (verbal noun) · sk supínum (verbal noun) · is sagnbót (verbal noun) · sv supinum (verbal noun) · eo supino (verbal noun) · cs supinum (verbal noun) · uk супі́н (verbal noun) · de Lagewort (verbal noun) · bg супи́н (verbal noun) · la supīnum (verbal noun)

wikipedia: John Glenn