predilection

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It was decided that something must be done with the heir of the Luscombes to wean him from low company (this was not me, but grooms and racing people); but even this predilection was ascribed in part to his fragile constitution.

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference.
  2. Syntax Note
    Synonyms: predilection, bias, leaning, partiality, penchant, prejudice, proclivity, propensity
    These nouns denote a predisposition to favor someone or something particular: a predilection for classical composers; a pro-American bias; conservative leanings; a partiality for liberal-minded friends; a penchant for exotic foods; a prejudice in favor of the underprivileged; a proclivity for self-assertiveness; a propensity for exaggeration.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

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predilection:   predilections
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

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  1. French prédilection, from Old French, from Medieval Latin praedīlēctus, past participle of praedīligere, to prefer : Latin prae-, pre- + Latin dīligere, to love; see diligent.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = French prédilection = Spanish predileccion = Portuguese predilecçã. = Italian predilezione, from Middle Latin *prædilectio(n-), preference, from prædiligere, prefer: see predilect, dilection.
 

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/pridɪˈlɛkʃən/
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