bias etymology

Etymology:

• Origin: Middle English "bias," from Old French "bias," from Late Latin "biācius," from Greek "biāios," meaning "going across," "sloping," or "oblique."

Meaning:

• 1. Inclination or prejudice: A predisposition or partiality towards something or someone, which influences one's judgment or actions.
• 2. Slant or angle: A diagonal or oblique line or surface.
• 3. Sewing: A diagonal cut or fold in fabric, used to create a hem or seam.
• 4. Bowling: The angle of a ball's path as it rolls down a lane, caused by its spin and weight distribution.

Origin and Usage:

The word "bias" originally entered English through the language of the medieval church. It referred to the diagonal cut or fold used in vestments to create gathers and pleats. Over time, its meaning expanded to include any oblique or sloping line, and then to a metaphorical sense of partiality or prejudice.

In the 17th century, "bias" began to be used in bowling to describe the angle of the ball's path. This usage is still common today in bowling and other sports where curved paths are involved.

The term "bias" has also been used in mathematics and geometry to describe a diagonal line or surface. This usage is less common in modern English, but it can still be found in some technical contexts.

Examples of Usage:

• "Her political bias makes it difficult to trust her judgment."
• "The bias of the line creates a sense of depth in the painting."
• "The bowler put a heavy bias on the ball to ensure a strike."
• "The bias in the research sample skewed the results."

bias relate terms

• biased

  Etymology Biased Late Middle English originally meaning awry crooked from medie

• bias

  Etymology Origin Middle English bias from Old French bias from Late Latin biāc

• skew

  Etymology Middle English from Old English sceow sceoh inclined oblique of Germani

• eschew

  Etymology The word eschew comes from the Middle English word eschiewen which in turn

• bias

  Etymology Origin Middle English bias from Old French bias from Late Latin biāc

• spin

  Etymology The word spin has Germanic roots Old English spinnan German spinnen

• diagonal

  Etymology The word diagonal comes from the Late Latin diagonālis meaning from a co

• prejudice

  Etymology Middle English prejudice n prejudicen v Late Latin praejudicium Lati

• inclination

  Etymology The word inclination originates from the Latin word inclinare meaning to

• favor

  Etymology The word favor originates from the Old French word faveur which in turn co

• propaganda

  Etymology and Meaning The word propaganda comes from the Latin phrase propaganda fide

• respect

  Etymology The word respect derives from the Latin word respectus meaning a lookin

• handicap

  Etymology The word handicap derives from the 16th century term hand in cap referrin

• weight

  Etymology The word weight comes from the Old English word wiht which means a measur

• taboo

  Etymology The word taboo originates from the Tongan language where it is spelled tap