Question

Identify the correct meaning of the given word:
              Prone

Answer 1

Hint:In order to guess the meaning of this word, try to recall any sentence that has this word. An example can be- Rodger is prone to diabetes. Here, you can easily figure out what the meaning of this word is. Definitely such a word can’t have a positive meaning.

Complete answer:
We need to go through the options to get a hang of their context and possible elimination in this case-
A. The option mentions the meaning as ‘likely to suffer’. This is certainly the most appropriate meaning of the given term ‘prone’ as it implies the negative character of this word. Prone is used to describe vulnerability to something, more specifically some disease. Generally we have always read that the slum-dwellers are more prone to contagious diseases; thus, we can easily make out the meaning.

B. This is an incorrect option as being ‘prone’ doesn’t mean a disease; rather it means being vulnerable to or likely to suffer from a disease. Hence, though prone and disease are related but they don’t mean the same thing.

C. ‘Likely to succeed’ gives a positive connotation of something which isn’t related to the asked meaning even remotely. As mentioned already, ‘prone’ has a negative tone, it can’t mean the same as this given option. Also, in this case even if you try to relate the option to something, then it can be related to the disease, that the latter is likely to succeed in affecting someone who is prone to it. So, safely we can conclude, this option is correct.

D. Finally, the last option is incorrect as well as it means something that is dormant or not in function anymore. Being prone means being actively vulnerable to something. It is, but very obvious that when we have discussed someone being prone to something, then they can’t be unreceptive towards that thing. They’re likely to be actively receptive.

 Hence, the correct answers are Option ‘A’.
Note:After going through all the options, we’ve satisfactorily figured out the most suitable meaning of the word ‘prone’ which means likely to suffer from something. Though the term is generally used in relation to diseases but it isn’t limited to that only; one can be prone to certain situations, some calamities, etc. One of the most common examples- People living near the shores are more prone to bit hit by a flood or tsunami. Here we convey that the people are more vulnerable to the destruction caused by the tsunami or floods.