Predilection is a strong, habitual preference for something or a tendency to think favorably of something. It denotes an established liking that guides choices and behavior, more than a casual fondness. The term often appears in formal or analytical contexts to describe a person’s leaning or bias toward certain options or activities.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ in related sentences; UK: shorter, crisper vowels; AU: flatter pitch with slightly broader vowels. Key differences: US /prəˈdɪlˌekʃən/ with /ɹ/ in connected speech; UK /prɪˈdelɪkʃən/ may reduce the first vowel to /ɪ/ or /ə/. Vowel shifts: /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ in the middle; final /ʃən/ remains common across accents. Accent tips: exaggerate the /d/ consonant in careful speech; in casual speech, keep it lighter while preserving the DIL rhythm. Use IPA cues to guide precise vowel height and lip rounding, especially in /ɪ/ versus /ɛ/ distinctions.
"Her predilection for classical music shaped her concert programming."
"The scientist showed a predilection for rigorous, data-driven methods."
"He has a predilection for spicy foods, even at the mild restaurant."
"The committee’s predilection for efficiency influenced the project timeline."
Predilection comes from the Latin prae- ‘before’ + dīlēctus, from dīlēctus ‘chosen, pleasing’ (past participle of dīlēctāre ‘to esteem, love, choose’). The term was formed in English by the 17th century, originally tying to a preference or bias formed before action. Its core sense is a ‘preselected liking’ that influences judgments or choices. Over time, predilection has remained a formal, slightly elevated term used in scholarly, literary, or policy discussions to describe ingrained biases or strong preferences rather than fleeting tastes. The etymology reflects an emphasis on pre-formed esteem or selection that colors subsequent decisions, which is why it frequently collocates with nouns denoting activities, domains, or tastes (e.g., predilection for, predilection toward). First known uses show up in prose and academic discourse where precise characterization of dispositions is important, such as critiques of reasoning or taste. Modern usage retains its formal nuance, distinguishing a conscious, persistent leaning from casual likes.
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Words that rhyme with "Predilection"
-ion sounds
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Pronounced prə-DIL-ək-shən in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable (DIL). IPA: US prəˈdɪlˌekʃən. UK speakers often say prɪˈdɛlɪkʃən, with tighter vowels and possible secondary stress shift on the middle syllable. Mouth position centers on a relaxed schwa, then a clear /dɪl/ cluster, ending with /ək/ or /əkʃən/ depending on rhythm. Listen for the hyphenated rhythm: pre-DIL-e-ction, the /ɪ/ reducing toward the second syllable, and the /ʃən/ tail creating a soft, quick ending.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (placing it on the first syllable pre- instead of DIL), blending /l/ and /d/ into a lisp-like /ld/ sequence, and pronouncing the final -tion as /tən/ instead of /ʃən/; some learners also reduce the /ɪ/ in the middle too aggressively. Correct approach: stress the DIL syllable, keep /d/ and /l/ clearly enunciated before the /ə/ or /ɪ/ sound, and glide into the final /ʃən/ without overemphasizing the /t/. Practice with slow, deliberate articulation and then normalize speed.
US: /prəˈdɪlˌekʃən/, with a rhotic /ɹ/ and a relatively reduced first syllable. UK: often /prɪˈdelɪkʃən/ or /prəˈdelɪkʃən/, with tighter vowels and potential non-rhoticity in careful speech, though many speakers retain rhoticity in careful registers. AU: /prɪˈdɛlɪkʃən/ with a flatter vowel in the first unstressed syllable and similar final /ʃən/. Differences hinge on vowel quality (ɪ vs ɛ) and rhoticity, while the final -tion tends to be /ʃən/ across regions. Pay attention to how you frame the stress through the middle syllable.
Three key challenges: (1) the mid-stressed /dɪl/ cluster requires precise articulation to avoid blending into /dɪl/ or /dɪlə/. (2) The /ˌekʃən/ ending can trip learners who expect a simple /ʃən/ but must maintain a concise /k/ before /ʃən/. (3) Subtle vowel shifts in US/UK/AU accents can alter perceived stress and vowel height. Focus on keeping the DIL stressed syllable crisp, releasing into a quick /ekʃən/ with a clear /ʃ/ and subtle schwa reduction in the final two syllables.
Imagine you’re saying pre- “dih-” with a light, quick kick into the DIL syllable, then a gentle /-ek/ followed by a sharp /ʃən/ for the ending. Visualize the mouth opening slightly in the middle syllable, keeping the /d/ and /l/ clear rather than merging them. Practice with a mirror: watch the tongue readiness for /d/ and the rapid glide to /ʃ/; finally, cap with a soft /ən/ rather than a hard /n/.
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