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

"New home sales are prone to heavy revisions. A flat-ish trend in sales, similar to what has been evident all year, seems more likely," they added.

From BBC

As for Arthur, the eye midge grants him a second life of sorts, popping itself into his dead skull and jerking him from prone into a seated position.

From Salon

But lonely boys are also more prone to commit violence on others, maybe especially when they mix their anger with politics.

From Los Angeles Times

He introduced Grok as a safe and truthful alternative to what he accused competitors of building, “woke” chatbots prone to censorship.

From Los Angeles Times

Soap stars are particularly prone to being confused with their on-screen characters, with viewers used to seeing their TV personas several times a week.

From BBC

Related Words

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