| Predispose | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predisposed p. pr. & vb. n. Predisposing. ] [ Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. prédisposer. ] 1. To dispose or incline beforehand; to give a predisposition or bias to; as, to predispose the mind to friendship. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To make fit or susceptible beforehand; to give a tendency to; as, debility predisposes the body to disease. [ 1913 Webster ]
Predisposing causes (Med.), causes which render the body liable to disease; predisponent causes. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Predisposition | n. [ Pref. pre- + disposition: cf. F. prédisposition. ] 1. The act of predisposing, or the state of being predisposed; previous inclination, tendency, or propensity; predilection; -- applied to the mind; as, a predisposition to anger.
Syn. -- inclination; tendency; predilection; propensity. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Previous fitness or adaptation to any change, impression, or purpose; susceptibility; -- applied to material things; as, the predisposition of the body to disease. [ 1913 Webster ] |
