Incline

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: in=cline

CIDE DICTIONARY

Incline, v. i. [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.].

•  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]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]

  "Power finds its balance, giddy motions cease
  In both the scales, and each inclines to peace."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bow; to incline the head.  Chaucer.

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

Incline, v. t. 

•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]

  "Incline our hearts to keep this law."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]

Incline, n. 

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

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Incline, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. (usu. in passive; often foll. by to, for, or to + infin.) a make (a person, feelings, etc.) willing or favourably disposed (am inclined to think so; does not incline me to agree). b give a specified tendency to (a thing) (the door is inclined to bang).
2 intr. a be disposed (I incline to think so). b (often foll. by to, towards) tend.
3 intr. & tr. lean or turn away from a given direction, esp. the vertical.
4 tr. bend (the head, body, or oneself) forward or downward.
--n.
1 a slope.
2 an inclined plane.

Idiom

inclined plane a sloping plane (esp. as a means of reducing the force needed to raise a load). incline one's ear (often foll. by to) listen favourably.

Derivative

incliner n.

Etymology

ME encline f. OF encliner f. L inclinare (as IN-(2), clinare bend)

THESAURUS

Incline

acclivity, acquiesce, address, affect, agree, aim, angle, ascend, ascent, back stairs, bank, be agreeable to, be disposed to, be dying to, be eager, be game, be open to, be predisposed, be ready, be spoiling for, be willing, bear, bend, bend to, bevel, bezel, bias, bow, bring, cant, careen, carry, cast, choose rather, chute, climb, collaborate, color, companion, companionway, conduce, consent, contribute, cooperate, decide, decline, declivity, deflect, descend, descent, determine, dip, dispose, drive, drop, easy slope, engage, enlist, escalier, fall, fall away, fall off, favor, feel about it, fire escape, fleam, flight of steps, gentle slope, get to do, glacis, go, go along with, go downhill, go uphill, grade, gradient, gravitate, hanging gardens, have a bias, have a tendency, have preference, have rather, head, heel, helicline, hill, hillside, hold a heading, honor before, impel, inclination, incline toward, inclined plane, induce, influence, interest in, keel, landing, landing stage, launching ramp, lay, lead, lean, lean toward, lean towards, leaning, level, like better, list, look at it, look kindly upon, look to, lure, make, move, not hesitate to, perron, persuade, pitch, please, plunge, plunge into, point, point to, precipitate, predispose, prefer, prefer to, prejudice, procure, prompt, rake, ramp, rather, recline, redound to, retreat, rise, scarp, see fit, serve, set, set before, set toward, settle, shelve, shelving beach, show a tendency, show preference, side, sidle, sink, slant, slope, soften up, spiral staircase, staircase, stairs, stairway, steep slope, steer, stepping-stones, steps, stiff climb, stile, subside, swag, sway, talus, tempt, tend, tend to go, tend toward, think best, think fit, think proper, tilt, tin, tinge, tip, tone, train, treads and risers, trend, turn, uprise, verge, view, warp, wear down, weigh with, work, work toward, would as leave, would as lief

ROGET THESAURUS

Incline

Willingness

VB be willing, incline, lean to, mind, propend, had as lief, lend a willing ear, give a willing ear, turn a willing ear, have a half a mind to, have a great mind to, hold to, cling to, desire, see fit, think good, think proper, acquiesce, comply with, swallow the bait, nibble at the bait, gorge the hook, have no scruple of, make no scruple of, make no bones of, jump at, catch at, meet halfway, volunteer.

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Tendency

VB tend, contribute, conduce, lead, dispose, incline, verge, bend to, trend, affect, carry, redound to, bid fair to, gravitate towards, promote.

Direction

VB direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.