[ad. L. supīnātio, -ōnem, n. of action f. supīnāre: see prec. and -ATION. Cf. F. supination, It. supinazione, etc.
There is no evidence in support of Johnson’s def. ‘the act of lying with the face upward.’]
Physiol. The action of turning the hand or fore limb so that the back of it is downward or backward; the position of a limb so turned. Opposed to PRONATION. Also attrib.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age (1676), 62. They [sc. the muscles] can perform … flexion, extension; pronation, supination, the Tonick motion, circumgiration.
1745. Phil. Trans., XLIII. Radius on the right Arm, checking the Motion of this Bone in Pronation and Supination.
1835–6. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., I. 286/1. Bones … so articulated together … as to admit of scarcely any degree of … supination.
1872. Huxley, Phys., vii. 171. When the palm is turned upwards the attitude is called supination.
1887. D. Maguire, Art Massage, iv. (ed. 4), 59. He [sc. the masseur] does not use pronation or supination movements till after he has massed the forearm and the articulations of the elbow.
b. Fencing. (See quots.)
1805. A. Gordon, Treat. Sci. Defence, 17. Then project the thrust, rolling your hand still more in quarte, or supination.
1890. A. Hutton, Fixed Bayonets, 152. Gloss., Supination, the position of the sword-hand with the nails upwards.
