I.fem. pronis, Varr. ap. Non. 494 fin.), adj. [like Gr. πρᾶνής = πρηνής, from root pra-, πρό; cf. prae).
I. Lit., turned forward, bent or inclined, leaning or hanging forward, stooping, bending down (class.; opp. supinus; cf. cernuus).
1. Of living beings: “puerum imponere equo pronum in ventrem,” Varr. R. R. 2, 7, 13: “pronus pendens in verbera,” leaning forward to strike, Verg. A. 10, 586: “ipsum Pronum sterne solo,” id. ib. 11, 485: “pronus magister Volvitur in caput,” id. ib. 1, 115: “pecora, quae natura prona finxit,” Sall. C. 1, 1; Ov. M. 8, 379.—Poet., of those running swiftly, Ov. M. 10, 652: “leporem pronum catulo sectare sagaci,” flying swiftly, id. R. Am. 201.—
2. Of things, bending forward or downward, going or inclined downward: “ilex paulum modo prona, dein flexa,” Sall. J. 93, 4: “prona ac fastigiata tigna,” Caes. B. G. 4, 17: “pronae atque vergentes ampullae,” Plin. Ep. 4, 30, 6: “demissus inde pronusque pulvinus,” id. ib. 5, 6, 16: “(urbs) prona in paludes,” sinking down, Liv. 4, 59: “crateres,” overturned, Stat. Th. 5, 255: “motus corporis,” Cic. Div. 1, 53, 120: “cubitus,” Plin. 28, 4, 14, § 54: “prona via,” steep, Ov. M. 2, 67: “amnis,” Verg. G. 1, 203: “rivi,” Hor. C. 1, 29, 11: “currus,” Ov. M. 5, 424. —Absol.: “nihil habent proni et supera semper petunt,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 18, 42: “per pronum ire,” downwards, Sen. Ep. 123, 14: “per prona voluti,” Sil. 15, 235.—
B. In partic.
1. Of the heavenly bodies, of time, etc., setting, sinking, declining (poet.): “pronus Orion,” Hor. C. 3, 27, 18: “sidera,” Prop. 1, 16, 23: “Titan,” Ov. M. 11, 257: “dies,” Stat. Th. 2, 41: “menses (=celeriter praetereuntes),” Hor. C. 4, 6, 39: “anni,” id. A. P. 60.—
2. Of localities, turned, looking, or lying towards (postAug.).
(α).
With dat.: “loca Aquiloni prona,” Col. 3, 2, 6: “aedificii solum pronius orienti,” situated more to the east, id. 1, 5, 8.—
II. Trop., inclined, disposed, prone to any thing (class.); usu. constr. with ad, in aliquid, or dat.; poet. also with gen.
A. In gen.
(α).
With ad: “rei publicae genus inclinatum et quasi pronum ad perniciosissimum statum,” Cic. Rep. 2, 26, 47: “anxitudo prona ad luctum,” id. ib. 2, 41, 68 (from Non. 72, 31): “boves ad domandum proni,” Varr. R. R. 1, 2: “pronus ad omne nefas,” Luc. 6, 147: “pronus ad cujusque necem,” Suet. Vit. 14: “ad poëticam,” id. Ner. 50: “ad simultates,” Plin. Pan. 84.—Sup.: ad indulgentias pronissimus, Capit. Anton. 10, 8.—
(β).
With in and acc.: “in obsequium plus aequo pronus,” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 10: “in libidines,” Suet. Caes. 50: “saeculum in omnia mala,” Flor. 4, 12.—Prov.: “prona est timori semper in pejus fides,” Sen. Herc. Fur. 316. —
(γ).
With dat.: “pronus deterioribus,” Tac. Agr. 41 fin.—Comp.: “aures offensioni proniores,” Tac. A. 4, 29 fin.—
(δ).
With gen. (poet.): “ruendi In ferrum mens prona viris,” Luc. 1, 461.—Comp.: “unus audendi pronior,” Claud. Ruf. 2, 400.—
B. In partic.
1. Inclined to favor, favorable to any thing (post-Aug.).
(α).
With dat.: “si modo prona bonis invicti Caesaris assint Numina,” Stat. S. 4, 8, 61.—Comp.: “cohors Cn. Dolabellae pronior,” Suet. Galb. 12.—
(β).
With in and acc.: “prona in eum aula Neronis,” Tac. H. 1, 13.—Comp.: “ut quis misericordiā in Germanicum pronior,” Tac. A. 2, 73: “in verum nepotem,” Suet. Cat. 19.—
(γ).
Absol.: “prona sententia,” Val. Fl. 8, 340: “pronis auribus accipere aliquid,” Tac. H. 1, 1; Luc. 5, 501.— Comp.: “quos pronior fortuna comitatur,” Vell. 2, 69, 6.—
2. Easy, without difficulty (mostly post - Aug.): “omnia virtuti suae prona esse,” Sall. J. 114, 2: “omnia prona victoribus,” Tac. Agr. 33: “pronum ad honores iter,” Plin. Ep. 8, 10, 3: “via ad regnum,” Just. 1, 5, 9: pronum est, it is easy: “agere memoratu digna pronum erat,” Tac. Agr. 1: “invitos praebere deos,” Luc. 6, 606: “facile et pronum est agere,” Juv. 9, 43.—Comp.: “id pronius ad fidem est,” is easier to believe, Liv. 21, 28.—Hence, adv.: prōnē , downwards, pronely (post-class.).
A. Lit., Paul. Petr. Vit. S. Mart. 4, 546.—
B. Trop., readily, willingly; comp. pronius, Amm. 30, 8, 10.
