Etymograph

English

predilection

Predilection comes from Medieval Latin praedīlēctiō ‘predilection, tendency, proclivity’, from Latin praedīligō ‘to prefer or love greatly’, and ultimately from dīligō.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīligō‘to esteem, love’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraedīligō‘to prefer or love greatly’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500praedīlēctiō‘predilection, tendency, proclivity’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1834predilection

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīligō‘to esteem, love’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraedīligō‘to prefer or love greatly’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500praedīlēctiō‘predilection, tendency, proclivity’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1834predilection

Earliest quotation: 1834, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, London: Richard Bentley: “The young King looked tenderly at Mademoiselle Mancini, who…”

Linked words

through Latin dīligō ‘to esteem, love’

diligence, diligent, 3 more

Today it means

noun A condition of favoring or liking; a tendency towards; proclivity; predisposition.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin dīligō / predilection

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