Part 125

3. A tendency towards another body or point.

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.

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.

A mere inclination to a thing is not properly a willing of that thing.

South.

How dost thou find the inclination of the people?

Shak.

6. A person or thing loved or admired. Sir W. Temple.

7. (Pharm.) Decantation, or tipping for pouring.

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.

In*clin"a*to*ry (?; 277), a. Having the quality of leaning or inclining; as, the inclinatory needle. -- In*clin"a*to*ri*ly (#), adv. Sir T. Browne.

In*cline" (?), 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.]

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.

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.

Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech.

Judges ix. 3.

Power finds its balance, giddy motions cease In both the scales, and each inclines to peace.

Parnell.

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

Syn. -- To lean; slope; slant; tend; bend.

In*cline", 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.

Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear.

Is. xxxvii. 17.

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

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies.

Ps. cxix. 36.

Incline our hearts to keep this law.