inclin

n. The state or quality of being inclinable; inclination. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. inclinatio: cf. F. inclination. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of inclining, or state of being inclined; a leaning; as, an inclination of the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A direction or tendency from the true vertical or horizontal direction; as, the inclination of a column, or of a road bed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A tendency towards another body or point. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Geom.) The angle made by two lines or planes; as, the inclination of the plane of the earth's equator to the plane of the ecliptic is about 23° 28′; the inclination of two rays of light. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A leaning or tendency of the mind, feelings, preferences, or will; propensity; a disposition more favorable to one thing than to another; favor; desire; love. [ 1913 Webster ]

A mere inclination to a thing is not properly a willing of that thing. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

How dost thou find the inclination of the people? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A person or thing loved or admired. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Pharm.) Decantation, or tipping for pouring. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inclination compass, an inclinometer. --
Inclination of an orbit (Astron.), the angle which the orbit makes with the ecliptic. --
Inclination of the needle. See Dip of the needle, under Dip.

Syn. -- Bent; tendency; proneness; bias; proclivity; propensity; prepossession; predilection; attachment; desire; affection; love. See Bent, and cf. Disposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the quality of leaning or inclining; as, the inclinatory needle. -- In*clin"a*to*ri*ly adv. Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

v. t. 1. To cause to deviate from a line, position, or direction; to give a leaning, bend, or slope to; as, incline the column or post to the east; incline your head to the right. [ 1913 Webster ]

Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear. Is. xxxvii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To impart a tendency or propensity to, as to the will or affections; to turn; to dispose; to influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 36. [ 1913 Webster ]

Incline our hearts to keep this law. Book of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To bend; to cause to stoop or bow; as, to incline the head or the body in acts of reverence or civility. [ 1913 Webster ]

With due respect my body I inclined. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An inclined plane; an ascent or descent; a grade or gradient; a slope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Inclined p. pr. & vb. n. Inclining. ] [ OE. inclinen, enclinen, OF. encliner, incliner, F. incliner, L. inclinare; pref. in- in + clinare to bend, incline; akin to E. lean. See Lean to incline. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To deviate from a line, direction, or course, toward an object; to lean; to tend; as, converging lines incline toward each other; a road inclines to the north or south. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To lean or tend, in an intellectual or moral sense; to favor an opinion, a course of conduct, or a person; to have a propensity or inclination; to be disposed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech. Judges ix. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

Power finds its balance, giddy motions cease
In both the scales, and each inclines to peace. Parnell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To bow; to incline the head. Chaucer.

Syn. -- To lean; slope; slant; tend; bend. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. 1. Having a leaning or tendency towards, or away from, a thing; disposed or moved by wish, desire, or judgment; as, a man inclined to virtue. “Each pensively inclined.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) Making an angle with some line or plane; -- said of a line or plane. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Bent out of a perpendicular position, or into a curve with the convex side uppermost. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inclined plane. (Mech.) (a) A plane that makes an oblique angle with the plane of the horizon; a sloping plane. When used to produce pressure, or as a means of moving bodies, it is one of the mechanical powers, so called. (b) (Railroad & Canal) An inclined portion of track, on which trains or boats are raised or lowered from one level to another. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, inclines; specifically, an inclined dial. [ 1913 Webster ]