proclivity
a natural tendency or inclination
Roots
- cline / cliv: lean, slope, or bend
- pro-: forward, forth, outward, or in favor of
Other words with the cline / cliv root
- decline: to slope downward; to refuse or decrease
- inclination: a tendency or leaning
- incline: to lean or slope; to tend toward
- inclined: likely or disposed to do something; sloping
- recline: to lean back
Cliv gives a slope; pro- tilts it forward into a tendency.
He had a proclivity for solving hard words by chasing their roots first.