dis·po·si·tion
(dĭśpə-zĭsh́ən)
[Middle English disposicioun, from Old French disposition, from Latin dispositiō, dispositiōn-, from dispositus past participle of dispōnere, to dispose; see dispose.]
noun
- One's usual mood; temperament: a sweet disposition.
- A habitual inclination; a tendency: a disposition to disagree.
- A physical property or tendency: a swelling with a disposition to rupture.
- Arrangement, positioning, or distribution: a cheerful disposition of colors and textures; a convoy oriented into a north-south disposition.
- A final settlement: disposition of the deceased's property.
- An act of disposing; a bestowal or transfer to another.
- The power or liberty to control, direct, or dispose.
- Management; control.
synonyms:
disposition, temperament, character, personality, nature These nouns refer to the combination of qualities that identify a person. Disposition is approximately equivalent to prevailing frame of mind or spirit: “A patronizing disposition always has its meaner side” (George Eliot) Temperament applies broadly to the sum of physical, emotional, and intellectual components that affect or determine a person's actions and reactions: “She is . . . of a serene and proud and dignified temperament” (H.G. Wells) Character especially emphasizes moral and ethical qualities: “Education has for its object the formation of character” (Herbert Spencer) Personality is the sum of distinctive traits that give a person individuality: possessed a truly unique personality. Nature denotes native or inherent qualities: “It is my habit,—I hope I may say, my nature,—to believe the best of people” (George W. Curtis)
