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penchant

inclination, tendency

noun pahn-SHAHN Rare

Origin: from 'pencher' (to lean/tilt), from Latin 'pendere' (to hang)

Also means

liking, penchant

Usage Note

Penchant describes a natural leaning or fondness towards something — avoir un penchant pour la musique means to have an inclination for music. The word entered English as a direct loanword with the same meaning. As a present participle of pencher, it also appears as an adjective meaning 'leaning' or 'tilted', though the noun sense is dominant.

Examples

"Elle a un penchant pour les romans policiers."

Natural Translation

She has a penchant for detective novels.

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