incline

Where does the word "incline" come from? It comes from Latin inclinare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Incline’s story begins in Latin: inclinare meant “to bend toward.” 'in-' plus 'clinare', to lean, the root of 'decline' and 'recline'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as encliner. Early English also spelled it 'encline'; the railway sense of a slope dates from 1846. It reached English by 1300s as incline. 'inclined to agree' dates from the 1400s. Today, incline means to lean or slope; to be disposed to.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient inclinare "to bend toward", 'in-' plus 'clinare', to lean, the root of 'decline' and 'recline'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval encliner "to bow", early English also spelled it 'encline'; the railway sense of a slope dates from 1846.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s incline "to lean", 'inclined to agree' dates from the 1400s.