propension Now rare.
(prəʊˈpɛnʃən)
[= F. propension (1595 in Godef. Compl.), ad. L. prōpensiōn-em inclination, propensity, n. of action f. prōpendēre: see propend.]
1. The action, fact, or quality of ‘propending’ or inclining to something; inclination, ‘leaning’, propensity. a. = propensity 1 a.
| c 1530 Wolsey in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 11 Knowyng hys Graces excellent propensyon to pyte and mercy. 1580 Babington Exp. Lord's Prayer (1596) 144 In respect of our great propension to abuse his plenty. 1640 H. Glapthorne Wallenstein iv. iii, I feele A strong propension in my braine, to court Sleepe. a 1677 Hale Contempl. ii. 57 There are certain..Propensions in our Natures after certain Objects. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. (1709) IV. 268 A strong Propension to Sensuality. 1837 Whewell Hist. Induct. Sc. II. 48 The impetus, energy, momentum, or propension to motion. |
b. Favourable inclination; = propensity 1 b.
| 1606 J. King Serm. Sept. 43 Wheresoeuer they haue met with any word..that beareth any..propension and fauour towards the vpholding of the eldership. 1652–62 Heylin Cosmogr. iii. (1673) 56/1 The natural propension of the People to one of their own Nation. 1759 B. Stillingfl. Misc. Tracts (1775) 358 The propension of cattle to this or that plant. 1867 Stubbs Lect. Med. & Mod. Hist. (1886) 18 The political slang which each side uses to express their aversions and their propensions. |
c. Liability, tendency; = propensity 1 c.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva ix. Introd., The aptness or propension of air or water to corrupt or putrefy. 1661 Feltham Resolves ii. xxviii. (ed. 8) 239 Bodies planted aboue the vapourous Orb of Air..rest there..without propension of descent, or falling. 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. xiv. 506 When you see the propension of Nature, you may come safely to Diureticks. |
† 2. Tendency to move in some direction or to take some position; inclination, as of the scale of a balance. (Cf. propensity 2.) Obs.
| 1644 Digby Nat. Bodies x. (1658) 103 Bodies that of themselves have no propension unto any determinate place. 1678 Hobbes Decam. viii. 89 He defines Gravity to be a Natural propension towards the Centre of the Earth. 1705 C. Purshall Mech. Macrocosm 269 If the Needle were under the Equator, it would have no Propension more one way than another. 1709 Phil. Trans. XXVI. 324 A certain propension which some things have to one another, whereby they attract, retain, and alter each other. |
Hence † proˈpensioner Obs., one who or that which has or causes a propension to something.
| 1657 Divine Lover 21 To the greate..comfort of such an Interior Propensioner, and God-thirstinge soule. |