▪ I. inclining, vbl. n.
(ɪnˈklaɪnɪŋ)
Also 4–6 en-.
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb incline; inclination.
1. A bending forward or downward; a bowing of the head or body in salutation or worship; a slope, declivity.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxii. 234 Þei gon..before the Emperour, with outen speche of ony woord, saf only enclynynge to him. ? a 1550 in Dunbar's Poems (S.T.S.) 322 Hevin, erd, and hell makis inclynyng. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 30 A plane field, haueng na inclyneng or bowing. |
† b. fig. A falling off, decline. Obs.
| 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 6 (1619) 105 In the inclining of Salomons prosperitie, the first exception the Lord tooke against him was, that he loued many outlandish women. |
2. Tendency, propensity, bent (physical or mental).
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame ii. 236 Vnto whiche place euery thynge Thorgh his kyndely enclynynge Moveth for to come to. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlvi. 52 To luve eik natur gaif thame inclynnyng. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. ii. (1586) 80 b, There is required a more enclining to the one parte. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) III. iii. 35 I'll tell thee my inclinings as I proceed. 1895 Daily News 20 June 6/1 He had many tastes and many inclinings outside the..world of politics. |
b. Party, following (cf. incline v. 8). Obs. or arch.
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. ii. 82 Hold your hands Both you of my inclining and the rest. 1752 Murphy Gray's-Inn Jrnl. No. 10 ¶7 Mr. Plastic is a compleat Shaftesburian Philosopher; like all the Gentlemen of that inclining, he has a polite Taste for the imitative Arts. 1893 McCarthy Dictator I. 14 The flower that had come to be the badge of those of his inclining. |
▪ II. inˈclining, ppl. a.
Also 4–6 en-.
[f. as prec. + -ing2. Cf. enclinant.]
That inclines, in various senses.
1. Leaning or bending from the vertical or horizontal (or other given) direction or position; bending downward or forward; sloping, slanting.
inclining dial: see incline v. 10 b.
| 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. ix. Notes 149 Such composed quiet, as inclining Age affects. a 1682 Sir T. Browne Let. to Friend in Hydriot. (1736) 59 A large Pot was found, which lay in an inclining Posture. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 311 Inclining Planes, which lean towards you. 1772 Ann Reg. 76 This mountain is situated in a gently inclining plain. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 518 The pendulum..withdraws the detent..from the tooth, which now pushes off the detent, by acting on the inclining face of it. 1881 N. & Q. 22 Jan., Passing through a romantic gorge, where the inclining ridges met. |
2. Having a tendency, leaning, or disposition to some particular thing; inclined, disposed; † disposed to comply with or favour a particular person, party, or cause (obs.).
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxiv. 1 Whils he has any affeccioun enclynand til any creature. 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 346 For 'tis most easy The inclining Desdemona to subdue In any honest suit. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. IV, clxxxviii, These Suggestions Made the enclineing Commons, All his friends. 1682 A. Behn City Heiress 37 What Wit, what Art Can save a poor inclining heart? 1771 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. III. 373 They supposed that he was more inclining to popery. |
b. Of things: Tending, approximating.
| a 1774 Goldsm. Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776) II. 367 The more inclining to violet..would be the colour of the body which they composed. |