Main Entry: ¹in·cline

Pronunciation: \in-ˈklīn\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): in·clined; in·clin·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French incliner, encliner, from Latin inclinare, from in- + clinare to lean — more at lean

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 : to bend the head or body forward : bow
2 : to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct
3 : to deviate from a line, direction, or course; specifically : to deviate from the vertical or horizontaltransitive verb 1 : to cause to stoop or bow : bend
2 : to have influence on : persuade <his love of books inclined him toward a literary career>
3 : to give a bend or slant to

— in·clin·er noun

synonyms incline, bias, dispose, predispose mean to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something. incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions <I incline to agree>. bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice <the experience biased him against foreigners>. dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something <her nature disposes her to trust others>. predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself <does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?>.