incline
UK[ɪnˈklaɪn]US[ɪnˈklaɪn]
v
To lean or slope in a particular direction.
v
To have a tendency or disposition towards a particular action, opinion, or state.
n
A sloping surface or plane.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
cline
in
towards
cline
to lean
Etymology
The word "incline" has a clear and logical construction from its Latin components. It derives from the Latin verb inclīnāre, which is a compound of the prefix in- (meaning "towards") and the verb clīnāre (meaning "to bend, lean, or slope"). The root clīnāre itself can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root klei-, meaning "to lean," which is also the ancestor of many other English words related to angles and positioning, such as "decline," "recline," and "client." The literal sense of physically leaning or sloping towards something evolved naturally into the modern abstract meanings of having a mental tendency or preference, metaphorically leaning towards a particular choice or opinion.
Analysis
Structure: in (towards) + cline (to lean)
- in: A Latin prepositional prefix meaning "in, into, towards, on."
- cline: From the Latin root clināre, meaning "to lean, bend, or slope."
Examples
The path began to incline steeply towards the mountain summit.
His experience and temperament incline him to be cautious in financial matters.
The truck struggled to drive up the steep incline.