a propensity for sth
1propensity — pro‧pen‧si‧ty [prəˈpensti] noun propensities PLURALFORM [countable] 1. a tendency to behave in a particular way: • The plastic bodied car s propensity to catch fire killed demand. 2. marginal propensity to consume ECONOMICS the relationship… …
2propensity — noun (C) formal a natural tendency to behave in a particular way: a propensity to do sth: the male propensity to fight | a propensity for (doing) sth: The child shows a propensity for disrupting class …
3propensity — pro|pen|si|ty [prəˈpensıti] n plural propensities [C usually singular] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: propense tending (16 19 centuries), from Latin, past participle of propendere to lean toward ] formal a natural tendency to behave in a particular… …
4-ative — suffix forming adjectives denoting a characteristic or propensity (authoritative; imitative; pejorative; qualitative; talkative). Etymology: from or after F atif ative or f. L ativus f. past part. stem at of verbs in are + ivus (see IVE): cf.… …
