prone1
[prohn]
- having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable: to be prone to anger.
- having the front or ventral part downward; lying face downward.
- lying flat; prostrate.
- having a downward direction or slope.
- having the palm downward, as the hand.
Show More
Origin of prone1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin prōnus turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed, prone
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comprone2
[prohn]
- a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.
Show More
Origin of prone2
First recorded in 1660–70, prone is from the French word prône grill, grating (separating chancel from nave); so called because notices and addresses were delivered there
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
devotedexposedsusceptibleinclinedaptsensitivewillingreadyflathorizontallevelprostraterecumbentsupinedecumbentprocumbentresupinebentdisposedgivenExamples from the Web for prone
Contemporary Examples
That gave a huge advantage to the sunny Republican prone to hugging supporters.
Some kids are prone to letting their minds wander and daydreaming.
This style of woodfire cooking is prone to sudden fluctuations in temperature due to the subtleties and different sizes of wood.
The candidate formerly known as Scott Fistler, 38, refuses to say if he is actually Hispanic and is prone to wearing fedoras.
She turns in dud stories, misses deadlines, and is prone to occasionally sleeping with her young, struggling musician sources.
Toni Collette on ‘The Realistic Joneses,’‘Lucky Them,’ and Crying in ‘The Sixth Sense’Melissa Leon
June 1, 2014
Historical Examples
Youth is prone to endow its opinions with all the dignity of certain knowledge.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
All, both rulers and ruled, are men, and prone to follow after their lusts.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV]Benedict of Spinoza
The weight which had crushed the bush down had been a prone, dead weight.
Pee-wee HarrisPercy Keese Fitzhugh
All around him he saw the prone bodies of his men, naked to the view of all and sundry.
Slaves of MercuryNat Schachner
I had rather dreaded the oath which his lordship is prone to use lightly.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
prone
- lying flat or face downwards; prostrate
- sloping or tending downwards
- having an inclination to do something
Show More
Word Origin
C14: from Latin prōnus bent forward, from pro- 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for prone
adj.
c.1400, "naturally inclined to something, apt, liable," from Latin pronus "bent forward, leaning forward, bent over," figuratively "inclined to, disposed," perhaps from adverbial form of pro- "before, for, instead of" (see pro-) + ending as in infernus, externus. Meaning "lying face-down" is first recorded 1570s. Literal and figurative senses both were in Latin; figurative is older in English. Related: Proneness.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
prone
(prōn)- Lying with the front or face downward.
- Having a tendency; inclined.
Show More
- In a prone manner.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.