Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
Definition of proclivity - 4 dictionary results

pro⋅cliv⋅i⋅ty

  [proh-kliv-i-tee]
Use proclivity in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ties.
natural or habitual inclination or tendency; propensity; predisposition: a proclivity to meticulousness.
Origin:
1585–95; < L prōclīvitās tendency, lit., a steep descent, steepness, equiv. to prōclīv(is) sloping forward, steep (prō- pro- 1 + clīv(us) slope + -is adj. suffix) + -itās -ity

Synonyms:
bent, leaning, disposition.

Antonyms:
aversion.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To proclivity
pro·cliv·i·ty   (prō-klĭv'ĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. pro·cliv·i·ties
A natural propensity or inclination; predisposition. See Synonyms at predilection.

[Latin prōclīvitās, from prōclīvis, inclined : prō-, forward; see pro-1 + clīvus, slope; see klei- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Proclivity

Pro*cliv"i*ty\, n. [L. proclivitas: cf. F. proclivit['e].]

1. Inclination; propensity; proneness; tendency. "A proclivity to steal." --Abp. Bramhall.

2. Readiness; facility; aptitude.

He had such a dexterous proclivity as his teachers were fain to restrain his forwardness. --Sir H. Wotton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

proclivity 
1591, from L. proclivitatem (nom. proclivitas) "a tendency, propensity," from proclivis "prone to," lit. "sloping," from pro- "forward" + clivus "a slope," from PIE *klei-wo-, suffixed form of *klei "to lean" (see lean (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see proclivity on Thesaurus | Reference