懾しょう伏ふく

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

prostrating oneself in fear; cowering

Literary and archaic term describing a state of being so frightened that one prostrates, kneels, or crouches. Rare in modern Japanese; found mainly in classical or historical texts.

• 敵てきの威い圧あつに懾しょう伏ふくする。

  To prostrate oneself in fear before the enemy's intimidation.

• 古こ典てんでは、臣しん下かが王おうの前まえで懾しょう伏ふくする場ば面めんが描えがかれる。

  In classical literature, scenes depict retainers cowering before the king.