Definition of predilection

The word "predilection" originated in the late 16th century from the French "prédilection," which itself came from the Latin "prædilectio." The Latin word was formed by combining the prefix "præ-" (meaning "before" or "favorably") with "dilectio" (meaning "love" or "affection"). The original meaning of the word in French was "preference" or "choice" in the sense of something being chosen before other things. In Latin, "prædilectio" was primarily used to refer to the idea of being chosen by God before others, as in the Bible verse Ephesians 1:4, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world." When the word was adopted into English during the late 16th century, it carried this same sense of "preference" or "choice," as seen in the first known use recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary in 1582: "I must confess my Predilection to thy woork." The word also came to be associated with particular tastes or inclinations, such as in the following example from 1622: "I do not deny but that all men have naturally some Prediliction." In modern usage, "predilection" is typically used to refer to a strong preference or attraction towards something, often in the context of emotional or personal inclination. For example, one might have a "predilection for adventure" or a "predilection for classical music." The word has retained its association with the Latin roots of "prædilectio," particularly the notion of being chosen or favored based on individual preference or characteristics.