prone
1[ prohn ]
/ proʊn /
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adjective
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.
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Origin of prone
11350–1400; Middle English <Latin prōnus turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed, prone
OTHER WORDS FROM prone
pronely, adverbproneness, nounOther definitions for prone (2 of 2)
prone2
[ prohn ]
/ proʊn /
noun
a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.
Origin of prone
2First 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. 2023
How to use prone in a sentence
A humble soul cannot receive it; but is proner here to run into excess.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)|Richard BaxterThat he was proner than most youths to serious meditation Uncle Peter did not believe.
The Spenders|Harry Leon Wilson
British Dictionary definitions for prone (1 of 2)
prone
/ (prəʊn) /
adjective
lying flat or face downwards; prostrate
sloping or tending downwards
having an inclination to do something
Derived forms of prone
pronely, adverbproneness, nounWord Origin for prone
C14: from Latin prōnus bent forward, from pro- 1
British Dictionary definitions for prone (2 of 2)
-prone
adj combining form
liable or disposed to sufferaccident-prone
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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