proclivity
(prəʊˈklɪvɪtɪ)
[ad. L. prōclīvitās a tendency, propensity, f. prōclīvis: see proclive and -ity, and cf. F. proclivité (1603 in Godef.).]
1. A condition of being inclined to something; an instance of such condition; inclination, predisposition, tendency, leaning, propensity. a. Const. to or towards some action, habit, or thing; also to do something; esp. said of what is evil.
| a 1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 421 He hath no proclivity or willingness of himself to come. 1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 77 b, Iniquitie of nature, and procliuitie vnto vice. a 1639 Wotton Life Dk. Buckhm. in Reliq. (1651) 76 To which lessons he had such a dextrous proclivity, as his teachers were fain to restrain his forwardness. 1651 Hobbes Govt. & Soc. i. §12. 13 This naturall proclivity of men, to hurt each other. 1721 R. Keith tr. T. à Kempis' Solil. Soul xiii. 202 Known unto thee it is, how great a Proclivity there is in my Nature to fall. 1813 Syd. Smith Wks. (1850) 218 Persons..found with such a proclivity to servitude. 1864 H. Spencer Princ. Biol. ii. iv. §65. 181 The vitalized molecules composing the tissues, show their proclivity towards a particular arrangement. 1876 J. S. Bristowe The. & Pract. Med. (1878) 142 A proclivity to catch cold. |
b. absol.
| 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Disc. iii. §15 The mastering of their first Appetites..lessening the proclivity of habits. 1656 Hobbes Lib. Necess. & Chance (1841) 308 That which he calls a necessity, is no more but a proclivity. 1708 in Fowler Hist. C.C.C. (O.H.S.) 263 Persons with Jacobite proclivities. 1879 M. Pattison Milton i. 6 The tutor to whom the young Milton was consigned was specially noted for Arminian proclivities. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 770 The family proclivity is only..a local tissue proclivity. |
† 2. A steep slope; an acclivity. Obs.
| 1645 Evelyn Mem. 7 Feb., We alighted, crawling up the rest of the proclivity with great difficulty. |