SuaviloquyToday’s word

prone

Prone, a.

Etymology: [L. pronus, akin to Gr. pravana sloping, inclined, and also to L. pro forward, for. See Pro-.]

1. Bending forward; inclined; not erect. Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone. Milton.

2. Prostrate; flat; esp., lying with the face down; -- opposed to supine. Which, as the wind, Blew where it listed, laying all things prone. Byron.

3. Headlong; running downward or headlong. "Down thither prone in flight." Milton.

4. Sloping, with reference to a line or surface; declivous; inclined; not level. Since the floods demand, For their descent, a prone and sinking land. Blackmore.

1 more senses

5. Inclined; propense; disposed; -- applied to the mind or affections, usually in an ill sense. Followed by to. "Prone to mischief." Shak. Poets are nearly all prone to melancholy. Landor.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for prone; he lists it under addicted.

Where he writes about it:

Prone is used only in a bad sense, and generally of natural tendencies; as, our hearts are prone to evil. — from addicted