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inclinationn. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French inclination; Latin inclīnātiōn-, inclīnātiō. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman inclinacioun, Anglo-Norman and Middle French inclinacion, Middle French inclination, enclynacion, enclynation (French inclination ) tendency, nature, character (end of the 13th cent. in Old French; in early use frequently attributed to the influence of the planets or stars), love, affection (c1340), action of bowing in reverence (14th cent.), fact or condition of sloping (c1380; rare before mid 16th cent.), desire, yearning, liking (end of the 14th cent. or earlier), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin inclīnātiōn-, inclīnātiō action of leaning or causing to lean to one side, deviation from a course, unsteady motion, downward movement, descent, fact or state of being aslant, slope, leaning posture, tendency, liking, change for the worse, deterioration, (in grammar) modification of a word by inflection or derivation, lowering (of the voice) in pitch, in post-classical Latin also action of bowing in reverence (5th cent.) < inclīnāt- , past participial stem of inclīnāre incline v. + -iō -ion suffix1.Compare Catalan inclinació (14th cent.), Spanish inclinación , †enclinación (late 13th cent.), Portuguese inclinação (14th cent.), Italian inclinazione (14th cent.). In sense 10 after incline v. 10; compare German †Inklinazion (1811 or earlier in this sense; the usual German term for this feature in Greek grammar is now Enklisis enclisis n.). I. Senses relating to tendency, disposition, or preference. 1. the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xi. 474 Eueryche creature vppon erþe haþ a maner inclinacioun be þe meovinge of planetis. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 601 I folwed ay myn Inclinacioun By vertu of my constellacioun. a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) iv. l. 2637 Of kynde your inclynacioun Disposed is..Vnto al merci. c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 459 The þridde temptacioun into þe same perel leding is natural inclinacioun had bi domynacioun of sum vnkinde humour. 1508 W. Dunbar Ballade Barnard Stewart in (1998) I. 178 He of naturall inclinacioune Dois favour the. 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger II. iv. iv. sig. Eee.iij/1 He hath giuen to all creatures a certeine inclination and nature, which he hath made their owne. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. v. 114 Bid him Report the feature of Octauia: her yeares, Her inclination, let him not leaue out The colour of her haire. View more context for this quotation 1692 tr. J. Du Bosc 135 Their good Nature and their good Inclination remain without effect under the want of Reading and Conversation. 1713 W. Derham v. i. 312 There is the same Reason for the Variety of Genii, or Inclinations of Men. b. A tendency or disposition to behave, think, feel, etc., in a particular way; a readiness or willingness to do something. Also: a preference for a person, party, proposal, etc.; a leaning, a bias. Also as a mass noun; see also by inclination at Phrases. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [noun] a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) ii. l. 2287 (MED) He..gaff his inclynaciouns Duryng his liff to eueri vicious thyng. c1450 J. Capgrave (1910) 3 (MED) He hated þe Greke letteris and loued weel þe Latyn, be whech inclynacion we vndirstand þat þat same langage in whech he was bore was mor approximat on-to þe Latyn tonge. 1490 (Caxton) sig. Aviiiv That he resiste his euyll enclynacyon vsed in whiche he hath byfore taken delectacyon. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil vii. v. 25 Vnconstrenyt, nocht be law bound thairtill, Bot be our inclinatioun and fre will Just and equale. a1540 R. Barnes Lawfull for Priestes to marry Wiues in W. Tyndale et al. (1573) ii. 323/1 They are both inclinations of nature, implanted of God. 1582 R. Parsons i. i. i. 13 Perhappes the very contrarietie and repugnance which he bearethe in frequentinge these thinges against his inclination, may moue our mercifull lorde. 1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker 227 Partlie by fleshly affections, inclinations, dispositions, delights, attempts, and carnall practises whatsoeuer they be. 1667 J. Milton ii. 524 Each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice Leads him perplext. View more context for this quotation 1681 J. Kettlewell iii. iii. 261 They will allow us to think of good, to spend a faint wish, a sudden inclination, or a fruitless desire upon it. 1705 J. Logan in (1872) X. 376 There seems to be growing on the inhabitants, in the main, much better inclinations. 1769 ‘Junius’ (1772) I. iii. 30 It was taken from him much against his inclination. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. vi. 139 Clarendon's inclinations were very different: but he was, from temper, interest, and principle, an obsequious courtier. 1897 W. E. Gladstone 2 Inclination does not suffice to justify silence. a1930 D. H. Lawrence (1934) 42 He recognised the woman defensive, playing the coward against her own inclinations. 1967 23 Sept. 818/2 Only the practitioner knows what he does and why he is doing it, recording the bare essentials for lack of time or inclination. 2013 (Nexis) 16 Oct. c1 Despite our better inclinations, it has always been too easy to go to war. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [noun] > to, towards, or for something a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) i. l. 3819 Ye may see..Off kyng Edippus thynclynacioun To vices all. 1481 W. Caxton in tr. Cicero sig. a6v Euery man hath an inclynacion vnto the same. 1533 T. More ii. xv. f. xxxix From thinclinacyon towarde pytye. 1548 f. ccxxvi A certayn naturall inclination to make warre in Fraunce. 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus v. f. 86 Alexander..had in him more enclinacion of heate then of pacience. 1603 Bp. Matthews in H. Ellis (1824) 1st Ser. III. 74 Thus presuming your Grace will yield favourable inclination to this my dutiful and lowly petition. 1607 R. Parker i. ii. 67 A shewe of inclination to poperie. 1691 J. Hartcliffe 5 Enough to draw off all our Inclinations after this World. 1712 R. Steele No. 264. ¶3 I have an Inclination to print the following Letters. 1790 W. Bligh 82 I found no extraordinary inclination to eat or drink. 1845 M. Pattison in Jan. 78 The Frank warriors..showed an inclination of executing at once the sentence. 1859 J. W. Carlyle Let. 21 Oct. in (2007) XXXV. 239 I haven't time—nor inclination for much letterwriting. 1925 17 Oct. 14/4 The Communists showed an inclination for climbing into bed with the Nationalists. 1983 J. A. Michener vi. 199 His wife's surprising inclination toward republicanism..stemmed from her casual associations with Tytus Bukowski. 2014 Dec. 165/2 Amazon showed no inclination to change its practices, and publishers lost e-book sales. the mind > will > wish or inclination > [noun] 1541 M. Coverdale tr. H. Bullinger f. ii God also had planted in them the kynde, the loue, the hert, the inclinacion & naturall affection that it besemeth the one to haue toward the other. 1594 T. Nashe sig. B3v The only counsell that my long cherished kinde inclination can possibly contriue, is now in your olde daies to be liberall. 1647 A. Cowley 33 If you an Inclination have for Mee. 1690 M. Vanel 212 From the very moment that he saw her, he had something of an inclination for her. 1711 R. Steele No. 33. ¶1 Daphne, despairing of any Inclination towards her Person, has depended only on her Merit. 1792 Suppl. 716/1 I began that very moment to have a strong inclination for you. 1874 J. L. Motley tr. F. de Bassompierre in I. ii. 112 I love you with affection and inclination. 1882 R. L. Stevenson II. 27 I conceived that any inclination between a man and a woman would rather delay..the step. 1955 A. Powell iv. 159 That rather puzzled look that in women is sometimes the prelude to an inclination for the man on whom it is directed. 2014 C. Lehleiter ii. 114 Augustin insists that his incestuous inclination is justified precisely because it follows nature. 2. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [noun] > to some physical condition or action a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. i. 444 Þe more spiritual is þe matere, þe more inclinacioun and appetite it haþ to spiritual fourme and schap. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. x. i. 553 Mater..haþ inclynacyoun to endeles many fourmes and schappis. 1540 R. Jonas in tr. E. Roesslin iii. f. lxxxxi Doubte lesse will ensue multiplicacion and encreasement of that kynde, of the which the seade commeth, accordyng to the naturall enclination the whiche almyghtye god hathe enplanted. 1643 B. Agar xiv. 7 All inferiall Mettals have inclination to gold. 1746 R. Manningham 60 It is the Business and Duty of the Physician, accurately to acquaint himself with all the various Dispositions and Inclinations of the Blood and Humours. 1808 Dec. 358 The animal possessing the greatest inclination to fatten was best calculated for all lands. 1899 3 June 789 The yarn no longer had any inclination to shrink. 1909 July 556 Loose, paroxysmal cough, excited by a feeling of a lump in the throat, with qualmishness and inclination to sweat. 1971 17 183 The results do not indicate a definite connection with the self-fertile inclination of the species. 2011 (Nexis) 18 Apr. 8 In my youth all bikes were made of steel, heavy and dependable with an inclination to rust with the merest hint of neglect. 1590 W. Clever 108 Single medicines, haue an appropriat inclination in themselues, but artificially qualified from their owne nature, haue a more clearer..effect. 1597 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 191 Men iudge by the complexion of the skie, The state and inclination of the day. View more context for this quotation 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault i. viii. 38 He shall know how euery moneth in the yeere will be inclined, by obseruing the inclination of the day of the Natiuitie and of the festiual daies following. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre i. 22 in tr. Procopius The whole inclination of the War depending on him. 1705 J. Addison 289 As for the thick Woods..they are most of 'em grubb'd up since the Promontory has been cultivated and inhabited, tho' there are still many Spots of it that show the natural Inclination of the Soil leans that way. 1767 sig. C11 The inclination of the air, or season of the year, we conjecture, will be various, much rain, snow, or moist weather, and consequently inundations. the mind > attention and judgement > attention > [noun] > turning one's mind to 1509 S. Hawes (de Worde) xxiv. sig. I.viiv Whan the comyn witte hath the thynge electe It werketh by all due inclynacyon For to brynge the mater to the hole affecte. 1529 T. More i. f. xlvv/1 That he shuld lede theym by secrete insperacyon and inclynacyon of theyr hartes in to all trouth. 1580 A. Fleming tr. N. Hemmingsen 152 The holie Ghost..is effectuall in the word, to the inlightening of the minde, and the inclination or bending of the will. 1624 J. Robinson iv. 126 For that which is good, God works it by inclination, by his Word and Spirit; which inclination cannot be compulsion. a1676 M. Hale (1695) xiv. 136 As to the Inclination and Bending of the Will, it is true, the Will is naturally free, but yet it is essentially Subject unto the God that made it. 4. the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > tendency > [noun] > a tendency 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Aiiii Her naturall inclinacion is to be abrode in the open ayre. 1554 sig. A.viii Their natural inclination is to disceiue, poison, and destroye..the faithful and elect of God. 1602 S. Patrick tr. I. Gentillet iii. vi. 182 My naturall inclination is to pardon you. 1675 H. Neville tr. N. Machiavelli Hist. Florence vi, in tr. N. Machiavelli 124 The Count obeyed their Orders, though his own inclination was to have passed the Adda, and invaded the Country of Brescia. 1734 tr. C. Rollin I. 141 Traffick was the predominant inclination. 1758 J. Adams tr. A. de Ulloa II. iii. v. 347 The usual inclination of the wind in these seas..is to follow the sun. 1793 J. Morse (new ed.) I. 99 Thieving is a very prevalent inclination among them. 1815 Mar. 81/2 My inclination is to defend the innocent against the blind but wide-mouthed monster Calumny. 1885 F. Temple iii. 77 We do what it is our custom, our inclination, our character to do. 1911 in G. French 4 It was their inclination to reject whatever promised pleasure, ease, or comfort. 1960 8 Jan. 38/1 My natural inclination was to go by train. 2012 7 Sept. 48/1 Forster's inclination is to use his characters as a platform, while Amis simply talks over them. the mind > emotion > love > loved one > [noun] > state or condition of being a favourite > favourite or pet 1691 W. Temple iii. 307 This was the Character of Monsieur Hoeft, who was a great inclination of mine. 1712 J. Arbuthnot ii. 11 Of the three Brothers..Jack had of late been her Inclinations. II. Senses relating to physically bending, sloping, or tilting. 5. the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > bowing, kneeling, or curtseying > a bow or curtsey a1425 (Cambr.) (1904) l. 222 (MED) Knele doune & halde vp bath handys, And þan wit inclinacione Be hald [þ]e eleuacione. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine f. ccccxxxvijv/1 There he maketh a depe enclynacion. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. PPPii With genuflections or knelynges, inclinacions, prostracions, or other reuerence. 1531 T. Elyot i. xxii. sig. Liv The first meuyng in euery daunse is called honour, whiche is a reuerent inclination or curtaisie, with a longe deliberation or pause. 1613 S. Purchas iii. xi. 300 With eight inclinations and foure prayings. 1675 A. Roberts tr. D. Vairasse d'Allais I. 96 She, making a low inclination, and blushing at the same time, answered, Yes. 1712 J. Addison No. 305. ¶14 To furnish them with Bows and Inclinations of all Sizes, Measures, and Proportions. 1797 XVII. 184/2 No figure is ever seen presenting any thing to them with bended knee, except captives; and none addresses them with an inclination of the head. 1802 E. Forster III. 380 Having made him a courteous inclination of her head, [she] proceeded on her route. 1864 C. Dickens (1865) I. i. viii. 69 With a languid inclination of the head. 1916 J. H. McCarthy xvii. 128 ‘You are Sir Batty Sellars?’ the old lady asked. Sir Batty, having affirmed his identity by a polite inclination, the old lady went on again. 1960 M. B. Syrier tr. Abu Bakr Effendi 92 In the prostration they should bow the head lower than in the inclination. 2013 2 i. 54 Yuan Longping seems to greet the viewers with a slight inclination of his head. 1580 M. Outred tr. M. Cope (iv. 23) f. 67 He [sc. Solomon] hath not then promised life and health, for the inclination of the eares..but for the care and diligence of the heart. 1615 H. Crooke 785 Their [sc. the ioynts] motion is onely simple, absolued by extention and flexion without any inclination to either side. 1654 W. Charleton iii. vi. 221 The successive inclination of the tops of trees in woods, the rowling of waves at sea, &c. 1734 G. Thomson v. 87 The hand is contracted by inclination of the thumb, and the easy motion of the fourth metacarpal bone. 1796 46 The next thing to be done was to awake him, which they did by a sudden inclination to the box, and emptying it of it's contents. 1834 D. Walker 32 The right mode of getting to either edge [of the ice skate] is by the inclination of the whole body in the direction required. 1922 E. Mueller tr. D. Holde (new ed.) i. 73 By careful inclination of the test tube, the presence of a sediment becomes evident. 1987 G. Bear xv. 113 He pulled a cigar from his pocket, then asked by an inclination of eyebrows whether anyone would share his vice. 2015 Downward inclination of the eye causes the second lens element to swing away from the fixed lens element. the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > tilting or tipping > a vessel 1605 T. Tymme tr. J. Du Chesne ii. v. sig. Kv Seperate this tincted fleame by inclination, and keepe it by it selfe if you will, for such vses as hereafter shall bee shewed. 1651 J. French i. 9 Decantation, is the pouring off of any liquor which hath a setling, by inclination. 1694 W. Salmon i. v.180/1 Separate the clear from the fæces by inclination. 1758 A. Reid tr. P. J. Macquer I. 306 Pour off the liquor by inclination, and wash the precipitate with fair water. 1771 III. 249/2 Let it subside for a while, and then pour it by inclination into a shell that has been well scoured in hot water. 1809 tr. in 2nd Ser. 15 300 Pour off by inclination the infusion into a glass or glazed earthen vessel. 1901 A. H. Searle tr. E. Swedenborg (1938) iii. ix. 498 The sulphur must be allowed to settle and the supranatant liquor must be drawn off by inclination. the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of bending > [noun] > bent posture ?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 129v, in at Inclinacioun Ȝif..þe pacient be streite wynded & haue grete akkeþ in þe place, it is a token of inclinacioun oþer plicacioun inward. 1582 E. Worsop sig. H2v The inward inclination or bending of the sharpe angle e.h.g. 1659 J. Pearson vi. 562 To sit doth not [here] signifie any peculiar inclination or flexion, any determinate location or position of the body. the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > fall from prosperous or thriving condition c1450 J. Capgrave (1910) 20 (MED) Ponciane and his felaw sey þe sunne draw fast to inclinacion..and hasted hem homward. 1545 G. Joye (xi.) f. 190v Aftir Antiochus death there folowed a greate inclinacion and losse of the kingdome of Syria. 1565 T. Harding iv. vi. f. 181v Any other stocke, that ye can name sence the inclination of the Romaine Empire. 1643 W. Burton in tr. J. H. Alsted 7 Now perceiving an inclination and decay of their Kingdom. 8. the world > space > direction > [noun] > direction with respect to that of another ?a1560 L. Digges (1571) i. Defs. sig. Bj A Playne Angle is the inclination of two lines lying in one playne Superficies, concurring or meeting in a poynt. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid xi. f. 312v Inclination or leaning of a right line, to a plaine superficies, is an acute angle. 1656 tr. T. Hobbes ii. xiv. 144 An Angle which is made by two Plains, is commonly called the Inclination of those Plains. 1677 R. Hooke 39 The Ray between the two Parallel Lines fh, eg, hath the same inclination and respect to the Refracting Superficies. a1727 I. Newton (1730) i. i. 26 The two Rays being equally refracted, have the same Inclination to one another after Refraction which they had before; that is, the Inclination of half a Degree answering to the Sun's Diameter. 1772 J. Adams tr. A. de Ulloa (ed. 3) I. 368 A course of above 200 leagues in a direct line from E. to W. with some, though insensible, inclinations to the S. 1829 J. Inman (ed. 2) 124 Such lines, having no inclination to each other, must be equally inclined to the same straight line towards the same part. 1874 9 May 592/2 The slide-rest being once properly set at the required inclination to the face of the stone, any number of cutting tools can be ground with ease. 1941 Oct. 55 The inclination of the plate to the air stream is the angle of attack. 1971 B. 179 107 The inclination between optical axes of the open rhabdomeres of the fly depend on the flat top of the cone lying in the plane of the first image. 2009 J. C. Dixon vii. 147 The axle roll inclination coefficient..is the rate of change of the mean inclination of the two wheels with respect to suspension roll. the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > used in dialling > [noun] > angle 1585 J. Blagrave Table of Contents sig. ¶¶v How to take the reclination or inclination of any wal or flat. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) Inclination of a Plane in Dialling, is the Arch of a vertical Circle, perpendicular to both the Plane and the Horizon, and intercepted between them. 1842 A. Bell II. 341 The elevation of the stile of an inclining dial at any place, is equal to the sum or difference of the latitude and inclination. 1973 A. E. Waugh xi. 101 Find the amount of reclination or inclination of the plane on which the dial is to be placed. the world > the universe > planet > position of planet > [noun] > inclination 1619 J. Bainbridge 6 This Comets retrogression depends on the inclination of his true line in the aetheriall Regions. 1695 E. Halley Let. 7 Oct. in I. Newton (1967) IV. 173 As to the Comet of 1680/1 I was only desirous to trie the method I used in that of 1683, in this also, taking your limitation for an Hypothesis and I found I could not stirr the Nodes or Inclination. 1715 W. Derham iv. iv. 87 The other lying in the broad path of the Zodiack at an inclination of 23½ degrees. 1786 (Royal Soc.) 76 427 The inclination of the orbit was found by the observations made in the following year 1682 to be 22' greater than in the year 1607. 1815 J. Smith I. 538 The inclination of Mercury's orbit, to the plane of the ecliptic, is about 7°. 1879 Aug. 571/1 Had the motion of both planets been merely progressive and coincident with the ecliptic, the orbital inclination for the fragmentary group would vary from 0 to about 19°. 1939 81 481 The orbital parameters governing the spatial distribution of meteoroids near the sun are principally the inclinations of the orbits and the perihelion distances. 1979 22 Nov. 641/3 Of these [six orbital elements], the orbital inclination is the only one that remains virtually constant during the lifetime of the satellite. 2011 M. M. Woolfson xiv. 235 Neptune's orbit has an inclination of under 2° while that of Pluto is 17°. the world > space > direction > [noun] > direction with respect to that of another > deviation from vertical or horizontal the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > amount of the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > of a line from the perpendicular to a plane 1799 J. Robertson 494 The drain has an inclination of one foot in 100 yards. 1834 12 Apr. 138/1 It is owing, probably to this disturbance that the pillar has an inclination of about seven inches to the south-west. 1849 G. C. Greenwell 31 An underground self-acting plane should not have a less inclination than 1¼ inch to the yard. 1854 D. Brewster iv. 66 The small inclination of Jupiter's axis to the plane of its orbit, which is only about three degrees. 1868 W. Lockyer & J. N. Lockyer tr. A. Guillemin (ed. 3) 31 The Sun's axis of rotation is but slightly inclined..to the ideal plane in which our Earth moves round the Sun. If this inclination were nil [etc.]. 1951 W. W. Elliott & E. R. C. Miles (ed. 2) xviii. 235 Inclination and slope of a line. If a line L is parallel to the x -axis, its inclination is zero. 1981 J. McPhee 25 The inclination of a slope on which boulders would stay put was the angle of repose. 2006 29 543/1 The inclination of the slope was calculated using the elevation of the upper and lower corner. 2011 T. Wheeler vi. 122 At the beginning of the twentieth century the tower had an inclination of 194 centimetres. 9. the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] 1590 E. Spenser iii. vi. sig. Hh6v There was a pleasaunt Arber, not by art, But of the trees owne inclination made. 1644 K. Digby i. xii. 266 When light falleth vpon a body with so great a sloaping or inclination, so much of it as getteth through, must needes be weake and much diffused. 1729 S. Switzer II. sig. Gg3v If a River has run through a pretty long Space in a certain Inclination, and..it runs afterwards in a less steep Inclination, that is to say, along a Plane less inclin'd, it will diminish its Velocity. 1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre III. 156 This inclination undergoes some varieties in certain mountain-trees. 1799 R. Kirwan 335 A connexion between the inclination of the slip, and the elevation or depression of the strata. 1809 J. Wilson II. 474 The strata..do not follow the alignment of the greater mountain to which they have belonged, as they fall by a gradual inclination towards the opposite extremity. 1862 S. Smiles III. 175 The inclination of the gradients being towards the sea. 1937 A. R. Hall 24 Crop rows were given a slight inclination downhill in order to drain the land of the excess water. 1963 T. Matsumoto in F. Takai vii. 124 While the rocks of the Kwanmon group are moderately folded, those of the Kyöngsang show a gentle inclination towards the southeast. 2013 (Nexis) 3 May (Lifestyle section) We've got that steep inclination (on the roof), it took a while to get somebody that was able to tackle the project. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > bit of magnetized steel as direction indicator > dip of needle 1613 M. Ridley xi. 35 Aboue the Horizon the inclination and conformation of the Inclinatory-needle is obserued. 1678 T. Hobbes viii. 101 The same Needle placed in a Plain perpendicular to the Horizon, hath another Motion called the Inclination. 1785 W. Enfield (new ed.) vi. 339 A needle which..rests on its center parallel to the horizon, on becoming magnetical will incline towards the earth: this is called its inclination, or dipping. 1839 G. Bird 151 The dip or inclination of the needle. 1873 G. F. Rodwell (new ed.) 171 This angle is read off on the graduated circle, and is the magnetic dip or inclination at the place of observation. 1936 6 June 7/3 This [instrument] is used to measure the magnetic inclination or dip. 1981 4 June 616/2 The first measurement of magnetic dip, or inclination, was made by Robert Norman in 1576. 2009 P. Hawkins vii. 91 The angle it [sc. a bar magnet] lies at is called the magnetic inclination. the world > space > relative position > inclination > [noun] > inclination from the level or slope > a sloping object, surface, etc. 1809 Dec. 422 Where the neck rises from the chest of the horse, the shoulder-blades form the resting place for his collar or harness into a slope or inclination. 1841 XIX. 250/2 If..any inclination occur so steep that the ordinary power cannot ascend it by a reduction of speed. 1877 tr. J. Payer (U.S. ed.) 217 A sledge cannot, for any considerable length of time, be dragged up an inclination exceeding two or three degrees. 1939 2/1 In apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination, a pulley adapted to be supported at an upper part of the inclination. 2001 Feb. 1482 An engine of 150 kW is drawing a train..up an inclination of 1 in 50. †III. Other senses. the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > intonation, pitch, or stress > [noun] > accent > stress accent > stressed or unstressed word or syllable > clitic > transference of stress to preceding word 1822 E. Everett tr. P. Buttmann 182 It [sc. the present tense ἐιμί] is actually subject to inclination [Ger. wird..wirklich inkliniert] where it is the mere copula of a proposition. 1845 W. E. Jelf I. iii. 54 The inclination of the accent is naturally subject to the general laws of accentuation. 1883 4 61 With the exception of τοῦτο these words are either too weak to allow inclination upon them, or, like καί, are not real members of the sentence which they introduce. Phrases1547 A. Kelton sig. d.iiiiv Who was more vnsure, grace to recouer Then was Nero, by inclinacion More prouder of port. 1614 J. Norden sig. K4v Some are by inclination nigardly. 1700 85 He..Pleads Liberty of Conscience, for Biting his very Brethren..; and so is honest by Discretion, and a Knave by Inclination. 1720 D. Defoe 182 I..was..an original Thief, and a Pyrate..by Inclination. 1823 24 Apr. 742/2 The plaintiff..was by trade a law-stationer, and, as appeared, by inclination an amateur, at least, of the fancy [i.e. boxing]. 1898 July 593 A bohemian by inclination. 1943 R. Graves xi. 139 Every man is by inclination a monologian, I believe. 2003 R. MacFarlane (2004) iii. 88 Smith, a sedentary man by inclination, had himself succeeded in climbing the mountain in August 1851, abetted by a battalion of guides and an intemperate amount of alcohol. Compounds1807 28 128 M. Le Noir..exhibited an azimuth circle, an equatorial, a repeating circle, a circle of reflection for the navy, a variation compass, an inclination compass. 1866 R. M. Ferguson 44 The first inclination chart was published by Wilke. 1870 R. A. Proctor in 14 Jan. 424/2 As we leave either inclination-pole, the dipping needle leaves its vertical position, and gradually approaches the horizontal. 1892 R. A. Proctor vi. 351 (footnote) Inclination changes as quickly near the inclination-equator and poles as on any inclination-latitude. 1925 H. C. Booth tr. F. Auerbach (U.K. ed.) ix. 218 Apparatus for the continuous observation of the quantities under consideration are called variometers, and there are intensity, inclination and declination variometers. 2014 J. Al-Khalili & J. McFadden Introd. i. 6 A compass that measures the angle of dip between the magnetic field lines and the surface of the earth, which we call an inclination compass. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.a1398 |
