prone

¹

[prohn]

adjective

1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable.

   to be prone to anger.

   Synonyms: subject, apt

2. having the front or ventral part downward; lying face downward.

3. lying flat; prostrate.

   Synonyms: recumbent

4. having a downward direction or slope.

5. having the palm downward, as the hand.

prone

²

[prohn]

noun

1. a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.

prone

¹

/ prəʊn /

adjective

1. lying flat or face downwards; prostrate

2. sloping or tending downwards

3. having an inclination to do something

-prone

²

combining form

1. liable or disposed to suffer

   accident-prone

Other Word Forms

• pronely adverb
• proneness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prone¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prōnus “turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed,” adverb based on prō pro ¹ ( def. )

Origin of prone²

First recorded in 1660–70; from French prône “grill, grating (separating chancel from nave),” so called because notices and addresses were delivered there, from Old French prodne, prorne, prosne, by way of a Medieval Latin or Late Latin intermediary such as protinum (unrecorded) from Latin prothyrum “foyer, porch, vestibule,” from Greek próthyron, from pró pro- ² ( def. ) + thýra “door” ( door ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of prone¹

C14: from Latin prōnus bent forward, from _pro- ¹

Example Sentences

That makes the port and its owner much less prone to the risk of secondary U.S. sanctions, he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Senyi Ngaga, a district commissioner of one of the areas prone to attacks, says government education campaigns have raised understanding, but rural areas remain vulnerable to superstitions as well as discrimination.

Read more on BBC

Markets have never been good at this, often prone to bubbles as excitement builds about disruptive technologies, usually with a narrative about how “this time is different.”

Read more on MarketWatch

"But they are really flat yet prone to human-caused subsidence, so sustained sea level rise could submerge them really fast."

Read more on Science Daily

When he learned that the supply of his usual matcha was restricted, Chang decided to spend about $135 per pound, or 70% more, on a higher grade of matcha that was less prone to shortages.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apt 
• devoted 
• exposed 
• inclined 
• ready 
• sensitive 
• susceptible 
• willing