predilection
/ˌpɹɛ.dəˈlɛk.ʃn̩/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.52 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A condition of favoring or liking; a tendency towards; proclivity; predisposition.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The young King looked tenderly at Mademoiselle Mancini, who gave him a glance quite as tender in return—not, however, unobserved. His mother had been for some time past a displeased spectator of a predilection which might become dangerous."
- "American operating practice aims at the minimum wastage of time by locomotives at water columns and coal stages, and this predilection for shunters with high capacity tenders is thereby explained."
- "It was an illusion, of course, generated by Clevinger's predilection for staring fixedly at one side of a question and never seeing the other side at all."
- "The appointment as Member of the B.T.C. with "special responsibility for railway workshops" of Sir Steuart Mitchell is in accordance with Mr. Marples' predilection for non-railwaymen in the highest posts."
- "A row of houses he regards as a row of necessary evils. The softening and degeneration of the human race he attributes to its progressive predilection for interiors and waning interest in the art of going out and staying there."
- "But for him the first rule of judging was to set aside personal predilection and vote the law and the facts."
Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin praedīlēctiō.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌpɹɛ.dəˈlɛk.ʃn̩/
- British English: /ˌpɹiː.dəˈlɛk.ʃn̩/