Question

Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of-
PREDILECTION
a- Repulsion
b- Hastiness
c- Preference
d- Hesitation

Answer 1

Hint: A synonym refers to a word that is nearly the same in meaning as another word. For example- Happy is a synonym for joyous. ‘Predilection’ refers to a person’s liking or inclination towards something.

Complete answer:
The word ‘predilection’ has been derived from the Latin word- Praediligere, which means to select in advance.
We know the meaning and the origin of the word ‘predilection’. Now, let’s look at its usage-
For example- Everyone was astonished by my predilection for Indian food. Here, we can conclude that everyone was astonished by X’s liking or preference for Indian food.
Let’s examine the given options-
Option a- ‘Repulsion’ refers to feelings of hatred or antipathy. For example- The lawyers talked about the new case with extreme repulsion. ‘Repulsion’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option b- ‘Hastiness’ refers to the act of moving or doing things with speed. For example- The employee was criticized for his hastiness. ‘Hastiness’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option c- ‘Preference’ refers to the liking or fondness towards someone or something. For example- She is appreciated for her preference for expensive wine. ‘Preference’ is similar in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is the correct option.
Option d- ‘Hesitation’ refers to pausing or delaying something. For example- She replied without any hesitation. ‘Hesitation’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option. The correct answer is Option ‘c’.

Note:
 Some other synonyms of ‘predilection’ are; liking, fondness, taste, etc while some antonyms of ‘predilection’ are; dislike, disinclination, etc.