propensity Copy link Outline 1. prōclīvĭtas (rare)2. cŭpĭdĭtas (a ruling desire, passion)3. often expr. by adj. • propensity: 1. prōclīvĭtas (rare): Cic. Tusc. 4, 12, 28, where it is used as special term to denote an evil tendency (haec in bonis rebus facilitas, in malis proclivitas nominetur). 2. cŭpĭdĭtas (a ruling desire, passion): the mind becomes enslaved by an evil p., animus se cupiditate devincit mala, Ter. Heaut. 1, 2, 34: to have the passions bridled, to control evil p.s, domitas habere libidines, coercere cupiditates, Cic. de Or. 1, 43, extr.: v. desire, passion. (Still stronger than cupiditas is libido: cf. Cic. Off. 2, 24, 84, tanta in eo peccandi libido fuit, such an inordinate propensity or passion for wrong-doing.) 3. often expr. by adj.: one person has a p. to one vice and another to another, animus alius ad alia vitia propensior, Cic. Tusc. 4, 37, 81: to have a p. towards ..., animo esse propenso ad ...: v. inclined. (N.B.--Various evil p.s may be denoted by special terms; as, p. to lying, mendācĭtas; to slander or reviling, maledicentia; to drinking, vinolentia; etc.: where see the names of the several vices.)