Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRONE-NESS, n.

1. The state of bending downward; as, the proneness of beasts that look downward; opposed to the erectness of man. – Brown.
2. The state of lying with the face downward; contrary to supineness.
3. Descent; declivity; as, the proneness of a hill.
4. Inclination of mind, heart, or temper; propension; disposition; as, the proneness of the Israelites to idolatry; proneness to self-gratification or to self-justification; proneness to comply with temptation; sometimes in a good sense; as, the proneness of good men to commiserate want. – Atterbury.