English
inclination
Inclination comes from Old French inclination, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱley-root as named · steps between not traced
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400inclination
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500inclinacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 1959inclination
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱley-root as named · steps between not traced
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400inclination
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500inclinacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 1959inclination
Earliest quotation: 1959, H. A. Vallance, The Pembroke & Tenby Railway: “The gradients on the western part of the line…”
Formed from incline + -ation
Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-
Latin clīnō ‘to bend, incline’
Latin inclīnāre
Old French encliner ‘to lean’
Middle English enclinen
English incline
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-
law, low, climate, lean, ladder, decline, lid, climax, eyelid, clinician, cline, proclivity, declension, declination, 27 more
Today it means
noun A physical tilt or bend.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- / inclination