penchant

Where does the word "penchant" come from? It comes from Latin pendere, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1670s).

Penchant’s story begins in Latin: pendere meant “to hang, cause to hang.” The basic verb of hanging gave rise to a frequentative form. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as pencher. The literal sense of hanging tipped into a figurative one of leaning or inclining. From there it passed into French as penchant by 1600s. The present participle was turned into a noun for a settled inclination. It reached English by 1670s as penchant. Adopted whole for a natural taste or leaning. Today, penchant means a strong or habitual liking for something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pendere "to hang, cause to hang", the basic verb of hanging gave rise to a frequentative form.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1200s pencher "to incline, lean", the literal sense of hanging tipped into a figurative one of leaning or inclining.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s penchant "a strong inclination", the present participle was turned into a noun for a settled inclination.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1670s penchant "a strong liking or taste for something", adopted whole for a natural taste or leaning.