Dis′po-si′tion, n.
(-zĭsh′un), n. [Lat. dispositio, Fr. disposition, Pr. dispositio, disposition, Sp. disposición, It. disposizione. See supra.]
Sense 1. The act of disposing, arranging, ordering, or regulating; application; disposal; as, disposition of property.
The disposition of the work, to put all things in a beautiful order and harmony, that the whole may be of a piece. Dryden.
Sense 2. The state or the manner of being disposed; distribution; arrangement; order; as, the disposition of the trees in an orchard; the disposition of the several parts of an edifice.
Sense 3. Manner in which the parts of a material body are arranged, or are conceived to be arranged; the tendency to any action or state resulting from natural constitution; as, a disposition in plants to grow in a direction upward; a disposition in bodies to putrefaction.
Sense 4. Natural aptitude of mind resulting from constitution; tendency; propensity; hence, conscious inclination.
Lesser had been The thwartings of your dispositions if You had not showed them how you were disposed. Shak.
Sense 5. Acquired aptitude of temper or character; moral character.
His disposition led him to do things agreeable to his quality and condition wherein God had placed him. Strype.
Synonyms—Disposal; adjustment; regulation; arrangement; distribution; order; method; adaptation; inclination; propensity; bestowment; alienation.—DISPOSITION, INCLINATION, TENDENCY. These words agree in describing a prevalent and controlling state of the human mind. A man's disposition is the prevailing spirit or governing purpose of his mind. His inclinations are excited states of desire or appetency. Tendency is a strong determination or proclivity toward some particular mode of action. Our inclinations are variable; our natural tendencies are apt ultimately to prevail; but a disposition formed and sustained on the side of virtue will give us the control of both.