penchant etymology

Etymology

The word "penchant" derives from the Old French word "pencher," meaning "to slope down" or "to incline." It entered the English language via the Anglo-Norman dialect during the Middle Ages.

Meaning

Penchant refers to a strong inclination, preference, or natural tendency towards something. It implies a steady and enduring bias or inclination, rather than a momentary desire or whim.

Origin

The metaphorical use of "penchant" to denote a strong inclination can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed that the figurative usage arose from the notion of a physical incline or slope, where objects naturally tend to move or fall in a particular direction.

Examples

  • She had a penchant for classic literature and spent hours reading novels and poetry.
  • The musician displayed a natural penchant for improvisation, effortlessly creating new melodies and rhythms.
  • The scientist had a deep-seated penchant for solving complex problems, often losing track of time in his pursuit of knowledge.

penchant relate terms

  • append

    Etymology App Latin to toward near Pendere Latin to hang fasten Meaning T

  • appendix

    Etymology Latin appendix from appēdĕre to append attach hang on Indo European ro

  • avoirdupois

    Etymology Medieval Latin averia de pois goods sold by weight Old French avoir de

  • compendium

    Etymology Compend Middle French from Latin compendium from com together pender

  • compensate

    Etymology Middle English compensaten from Latin compensare to weigh out together bal

  • compensation

    Etymology Latin compensare to weigh together Proto Indo European kom pens to m

  • counterpoise

    Etymology From Old French contrepoise from Late Latin contrapensāre from Latin contr

  • depend

    Etymology The word depend comes from the Latin word dependere which means to hang

  • dispense

    Etymology Dispense derives from the Late Latin word dispensare meaning to weigh out

  • equipoise

    Etymology Equi Latin equal Ponder Latin weight Meaning Equilibrium a state o

  • expend

    Etymology The word expend originates from the Latin verb expendere which means to w

  • expense

    Etymology The word expense comes from the Old French word espense which in turn deri

  • expensive

    Etymology The word expensive derives from the Latin phrase ex pensus which literall

  • hydroponics

    Etymology Hydro Greek water ponos Greek labor work Meaning Hydroponics

  • impend

    Etymology Latin impendere to hang over be imminent threaten Proto Indo European

  • painter

    Etymology Old English pēohtor Proto West Germanic paintiō Proto Germanic paintiō

  • pansy

    Etymology Old French pensee from penser to think Pensee was first used figurati

  • penchant

    Etymology The word penchant derives from the Old French word pencher meaning to slo

  • pend

    Etymology and Origin The word pend has its origins in the Latin verb pendere which m

  • pendant

    Etymology The word pendant derives from the Old French word pendre meaning to hang

  • pendentive

    Etymology The word pendentive is derived from the Latin word pendere which means to

  • pending

    Etymology The word pending comes from the Latin word pendere meaning to hang or

  • pendular

    Etymology Latin pendulus meaning hanging Derived from the verb pendere meaning

  • pendulous

    Etymology The word pendulous originates from the Latin word pendulus which means ha

  • pendulum

    Etymology Pendo Latin verb meaning to hang ulum Latin suffix indicating an instru

  • pension

    Etymology The word pension originates from the Latin word pensio which means paymen

  • pensive

    Etymology The word pensive originates from the Old French word pensif which means t

  • penthouse

    Etymology Penthouse is derived from the Middle English word pentiz or pentise which

  • perpendicular

    Etymology and Meaning The word perpendicular comes from the Latin words per through

  • peso

    Etymology Spanish peso Latin pensum payment Meaning and Origin The term peso o

  • poise

    Etymology The word poise has two main etymological origins Old French pois meani

  • ponder

    Etymology The word ponder originates from the Latin verb ponderare which means to w

  • ponderous

    Etymology The word ponderous comes from the Latin word ponderosus which means heavy

  • pound

    Etymology The word pound comes from the Old English pund or pundt which itself

  • prepend

    Etymology Origin Latin gratus meaning pleasing or thankful Meaning Pleasing

  • prepense

    Etymology Prefix pre Latin meaning before or in advance Stem pens Latin

  • preponderate

    Etymology From Latin praeponderare meaning to outweigh Derived from prae befor

  • propensity

    Etymology From Old French propensite inclination tendency from Late Latin propens

  • recompense

    Etymology Old French recompenser to compensate to repay Latin re again back

  • span

    Etymology The word span derives from the Old English word spann meaning a measureme

  • span

    Etymology The word span derives from the Old English word spann meaning a measureme

  • spangle

    Etymology The word spangle is derived from the Middle English word spangel which it

  • spanner

    Etymology The word spanner is derived from the Old French word espandour which means

  • spend

    Etymology The word spend comes from the Middle English word spenden which in turn co

  • spider

    Etymology The word spider originates from the Middle English spither c 1200 deri

  • spin

    Etymology The word spin has Germanic roots Old English spinnan German spinnen

  • spindle

    Etymology The word spindle comes from the Old English word spindel which in turn der

  • spinner

    Etymology The word spinner is derived from the Old English word spinnan which mean

  • spinster

    Etymology The term spinster originates from the Old English word spinnan which means

  • stipend

    Etymology The word stipend comes from the Latin word stipendium which originally mea

  • suspend

    Etymology The word suspend comes from the Latin word suspendere which means to hang

  • suspension

    Etymology The word suspension derives from the Latin word suspendere which means to

  • preference

    Etymology Latin praeferre meaning to carry in front prefer Prefix prae meanin

  • taste

    Etymology Middle English tasten from Old English tæstan Proto Germanic tastōną

  • addiction

    Etymology The word addiction is derived from the Latin word addictio which means s

  • state

    Etymology The word state comes from the Latin word status which means condition or

  • disappoint

    Etymology Middle English disapoynten from Old French despointer desappointer Old Fr

  • agony

    Etymology Greek ἀγωνία agōnia Meaning Contest struggle painful distr

  • aberration

    Etymology of aberration The word aberration is derived from the Latin term aberrar

  • quorum

    Etymology Latin quōrum Ancient Greek khōrós army that divides the enemy s ranks

  • fickle

    Etymology The word fickle comes from the Middle English word fikel which means dece

  • superficial

    Etymology Latin superficialis super above on top of ficies surface Mean