Pronunciation: [wɜː pɹˈə͡ʊn] (IPA) 
The phrase "were prone" is spelled with the /wɜːr/ sound in "were" and the /prəʊn/ sound in "prone". The letter "w" is pronounced as the sound /w/, which is why "were" is pronounced with a schwa (/ə/) sound in the middle. "Prone" is pronounced with the long "o" sound /əʊ/ and the sound /n/. When combined, "were prone" indicates a likelihood or susceptibility to something happening.
The term "were prone" is a combination of two separate words: "were" and "prone". "Were" is the past tense of the verb "be", which denotes a state or condition of existence. It is used to indicate that something or someone was in a particular state or condition in the past. On the other hand, "prone" is an adjective that describes a tendency or inclination towards a particular action, behavior, or condition. It implies being likely or inclined to experience or exhibit something.
When these two words are combined, "were prone" refers to a past condition or state of being inclined towards or likely to experience a certain behavior, action, or condition. It conveys the idea that something or someone had a predisposition or tendency towards a particular outcome or situation at a specific point in the past.
For example, if someone says "they were prone to accidents," it means that in the past, those individuals had a tendency or inclination towards being involved in accidents. Similarly, if one states "the system's performance issues indicated it was prone to crashing," it suggests that in the past, the system had a disposition or tendency to experience crashes or failures. Thus, "were prone" encompasses the past state of being inclined or susceptible to certain behaviors, actions, or conditions.
The phrase "were prone" is not a specific word, but rather a combination of words. However, we can discuss the etymology of each component.
1. Were: "Were" is the past tense form of the verb "be" in the second person singular or plural, or the first and third person plural. It comes from Old English "wǣre", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*wēz".
2. Prone: "Prone" is an adjective meaning inclined, likely, or having a tendency towards something. It comes from Middle English "prone", which was borrowed from Old French "prone", ultimately derived from the Latin word "pronus" meaning "bent forward" or "inclined".
When combined in the phrase "were prone", these words indicate a past tense state of being inclined or having the tendency towards a certain action or behavior.
