prone

¹ American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

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.

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prone ² American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

noun

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

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prone ¹ British  

/ prəʊn /

adjective

1. lying flat or face downwards; prostrate

2. sloping or tending downwards

3. having an inclination to do something

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-prone ² British  

combining form

1. liable or disposed to suffer

   accident-prone

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Other Word Forms

• pronely adverb
• proneness noun

Etymology

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. ) )

Example Sentences

Most studies purporting to find a shrinking middle class are prone to a variety of measurement and analytical problems.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their quarterback, Georgia transfer Carson Beck, is especially turnover prone.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, as Barron’s has written, the memory market is prone to cycles of boom and bust, meaning it could be perilous for investors to chase the rally higher.

From Barron's

He noted that traders monitor real-time data to spot potential insiders and tend to avoid contracts that appear prone to insider trading.

From The Wall Street Journal

Pipes in lofts are also prone to problems so could benefit from having their own insulation "duvet" to stop thaw-related challenges.

From BBC

Related Words

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