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

But Parkes said more than 90% of chickens reared in the UK for meat were fast-growing breeds, which are prone to severe health issues.

From BBC

I guess if I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that everyone has breasts — just different kinds and all of them prone to disease.

From Los Angeles Times

Both cancers are known for being aggressive and prone to recurrence.

From Science Daily

I retrieve Helen’s cardigan and then flop onto the retiring room sofa while the girls around me eat sandwiches and exchange glances over my prone body.

From Literature

Many state price caps sent insurers scurrying away, especially in coastal and flood prone areas.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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