tendency etymology

Etymology

The word "tendency" comes from the Latin word "tendere," which means "to stretch, tend, or aim." It first appeared in the English language in the early 14th century, meaning "a natural inclination or disposition."

Meaning

Tendency refers to a general direction or inclination towards a particular outcome or state. It is a predisposition or an inherent force that guides or influences the development or behavior of something.

Origin

The concept of tendency can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle, who used the term "hexis" to describe a habitual or innate disposition. In the 17th century, the English philosopher John Locke popularized the idea of natural tendencies, arguing that humans have an innate inclination towards knowledge, pleasure, and self-preservation.

Over the centuries, the term "tendency" has been used in various fields, including psychology, sociology, economics, and biology. In psychology, tendencies are often associated with personality traits and behavioral patterns. In sociology, they are used to describe the general direction of social change or the predisposition of groups towards certain behaviors or beliefs.

In economics, tendencies refer to the long-term patterns or forces that shape market behavior, while in biology, they are used to describe the inherent characteristics or predispositions of organisms.

Examples

• The tendency of water to flow downhill
• The tendency of people to seek happiness
• The tendency of economies to fluctuate between periods of growth and recession
• The tendency of bacteria to evolve resistance to antibiotics

tendency relate terms

• tenet

  Etymology Latin teneō meaning to hold keep or possess Meaning A principle

• counter tendency

  Etymology Countertendency is a compound word derived from Counter From Old French

• tendency

  Etymology The word tendency comes from the Latin word tendere which means to stretc

• inclination

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

• disposition

  Etymology Latin dispositio arrangement disposition From disponere to arrange d

• trend

  Etymology From Middle English trende from Old French trende from Latin trendere to

• proclivity

  Etymology Latin proclivis meaning inclined downward From pro forward and cli

• dispose

  Etymology Medieval Latin dispositio an arranging from Latin disponere place a

• gravitate

  Etymology The word gravitate originates from the Latin word gravis which means heav

• recede

  Etymology Latin recedere to go back withdraw re back cedere to go yiel

• direction

  Etymology The word direction comes from the Latin word directio which means a strai

• attitude

  Etymology Medieval Latin aptitudo natural fitness suitability Latin aptus fit

• movement

  Etymology origin of the word movement Latin movere movere Proto Indo European m