The word "prone" is spelled with the letters P-R-O-N-E, and pronounced /proʊn/. The first sound, /p/, is a voiceless bilabial plosive (made by closing the lips and releasing a burst of air). The second sound, /r/, is a voiced alveolar approximant (made by bringing the tongue close to the roof of the mouth). The third sound, /oʊ/, is a diphthong that begins with an open-mid back rounded vowel (like the "o" in "dog"), and ends with a near-close near-back vowel (like the "uh" sound in "butter"). The final sound, /n/, is a voiced alveolar nasal (made by lowering the tongue to the floor of the mouth).
Prone is an adjective commonly used to describe someone or something that is inclined or likely to behave or act in a specific way, or to experience a particular condition or outcome. It can also refer to the physical position of lying face-down.
When used to describe a person, prone indicates a natural inclination or predisposition towards a certain behavior or characteristic. For example, a person who has a tendency to be forgetful can be described as prone to forgetfulness. Similarly, someone who easily gets angry may be referred to as prone to anger.
In the context of physical position, the term prone refers to the act of lying flat with the face down, typically on a horizontal surface. This position is often associated with relaxation or sleep, yet it can also suggest vulnerability or exposure. For instance, a patient lying prone during a medical examination presents their back for examination or treatment.
In a broader sense, the term prone can also describe the likelihood of experiencing a particular condition or outcome. For instance, someone who lives in an area prone to flooding is more likely to be affected by floods compared to those in areas less susceptible to such events.
Overall, prone is a versatile adjective that indicates a natural inclination, a physical position of lying face-down, or the likelihood of experiencing a specific condition or outcome.
Noting the hand when pronated; noting the body when lying face downward.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Bending forward; inclined; not erect; lying with the face downward; disposed; mentally inclined; precipitous.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "prone" originated from the Latin word "pronus", which means "bent forward" or "leaning forward". It was then extended to the Latin phrase "pronus ad", which translates to "inclined toward". Over time, it transformed into the Old French word "prone". It eventually made its way into English, retaining its original meaning of being inclined or disposed to something, often referring to a physical or mental position.