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

Afghanistan is very prone to earthquakes because of its location on top of a number of fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

From BBC

In 2018, the Wall Street Journal published a report that said co-workers described him as harsh, demanding and prone to crossing the boundaries of appropriate workplace behavior with explicit language and behavior.

From Los Angeles Times

The country is very prone to earthquakes because it is located on top of a number of fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

From BBC

In his early days on the ATP Tour, Draper was seen as lightweight and prone to quitting matches because of physical problems.

From BBC

"More people are paranoid, prone to conspiracy theories. Large numbers of people are giving up on the idea of facts."

From BBC

Related Words

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