prone 1
— pronely , adv. — proneness , n.
/prohn/ , adj.
1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable: to be prone to anger.
2. having the front or ventral part downward; lying face downward.
3. lying flat; prostrate.
4. having a downward direction or slope.
5. having the palm downward, as the hand.
[ 1350-1400; ME pronus turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed, prone ]
Syn. 1. apt, subject, tending. 3. recumbent.
prone 2
/prohn/ , n.
a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.
[ 1660-70; prône grill, grating (separating chancel from nave); so called because notices and addresses were delivered there ]