accubation

Latin accubatio, accubitio, from accubāre (“to recline”), from ad- + cubāre (“to lie down”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɑ.kju.ˈbeɪ.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

accubation (uncountable)

Accubation.

1. The act or posture of reclining on a couch, as practiced by the ancients at meals.
   • 1902, Journal of Biblical literature‎, volume 21-22, page 64:

     Accubation was introduced in Rome after the first Punic War (264-241 BC). In Greece accubation was unknown at the time of the Homeric poems (cf. Od. i. 145 ἑξείης ἕζοντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε, XV. 134 ἑζέσθην δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε), but afterwards the Greeks and Romans adopted this Oriental fashion and lay very nearly flat on their breasts while taking their meals, or in a semi-sitting posture supported on the left elbow.

   • Sir Thomas Browne

     Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by many nations.

• accumb
• accumbent