The Collaborative International Dictionary
Predisposing causes
Predispose \Pre`dis*pose"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predisposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Predisposing.] [Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. pr['e]disposer.]
To dispose or incline beforehand; to give a predisposition or bias to; as, to predispose the mind to friendship.
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To make fit or susceptible beforehand; to give a tendency to; as, debility predisposes the body to disease.
Predisposing causes (Med.), causes which render the body liable to disease; predisponent causes.
Usage examples of "predisposing causes".
Although both the immediate and the predisposing causes, and even the actual diagnosis, of this disease are still mysterious, its obvious and apparent character is sufficiently well understood.