incline

I. verb (inclined; inclining) 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 horizontal transitive 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 • incliner 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?

>. II. noun Date: 1846 an inclined plane ; grade, slope