'degradation-prone' originates from the combination of 'degradation' and 'prone'. 'Degradation' comes from Latin 'degradare', meaning 'to reduce in rank', and 'prone' from Latin 'pronus', meaning 'leaning forward'.

'Degradare' transformed into the Old French word 'degrader', and eventually became the modern English word 'degradation'. 'Pronus' evolved into the English word 'prone'.

Initially, 'degradation' meant 'to reduce in rank', but over time it evolved to mean 'deterioration'. 'Prone' has largely retained its original meaning of 'inclined or likely'.