Penchant

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɒnʃɒn/

Definitions

1. A strong inclination or liking for something often leads to a preference or tendency towards particular activities or interests
2. This term describes a persistent attraction or affinity for certain pursuits or habits that reflect one's inclinations
3. It signifies a heartfelt preference or enthusiasm for specific choices or experiences that shape individual tastes and desires

Etymology: The French word "penchant" is the present participle of "pencher," meaning "to tilt" or "to lean," so its original sense is literally "leaning" or "inclining." That physical image of a object tipping toward one side is the root of the modern sense of a strong inclination of the mind or taste. The verb traces back through Middle and Old French ("pengier," "to tilt, be out of line") to a Vulgar Latin form, "pendicare," built on the Latin "pendere," "to hang." So the same idea of something hanging or swinging sits behind the word. English took the word directly from French without adapting its spelling or pronunciation, which is why it keeps the French nasal ending and a sound unlike most native English words. Its use in English is a borrowing from French, so readers encountering it in a sentence are meeting a leaning-tilt metaphor that has been carried over intact from the French verb.

Synonyms: inclination, predilection, liking, affection, tendency

Antonyms: aversion, dislike, indifference, disdain, hatred