penchant English · revision 1320

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɒnʃɒn/, /ˈpɛnt͡ʃənt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɛnt͡ʃənt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|penchant]], the present participle of ''pencher'' “to incline, lean”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Vulgar Latin ''*pendicāre'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|pendēre|t=to hang; to weigh]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A strong or habitual inclination or liking (1672).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning has stayed close to that of the French: a leaning toward something.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) Merriam-Webster notes a frenchified pronunciation especially in British English.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1672 – a strong inclination.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A strong or habitual liking or [[inclination]], as in ''a penchant for travel''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pendant]]

+ * [[pendulum]]

+ * [[propensity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}