propensity

From propense (“inclined, disposed”) +‎ -ity, the former from Latin prōpensus, perfect passive participle of prōpendeō.

• IPA^(key): /pɹəˈpɛnsɪti/

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propensity (countable and uncountable, plural propensities)

1. An inclination, disposition, tendency, preference, or attraction.
   • 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Lecture I:

     To the psychologist the religious propensities of man must be at least as interesting as any other of the facts pertaining to his mental constitution. It would seem, therefore, that, as a psychologist, the natural thing for me would be to invite you to a descriptive survey of those religious propensities.

   • 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193:

     Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.

   He has a propensity for lengthy discussions of certain favorite topics.

• proclivity, propension, predilection, see also Thesaurus:predilection

• propense