tendency

tendency
/ten"deuhn see/, n., pl. tendencies.
1. a natural or prevailing disposition to move, proceed, or act in some direction or toward some point, end, or result: the tendency of falling bodies toward the earth.
2. an inclination, bent, or predisposition to something: a tendency to talk too much.
3. a special and definite purpose in a novel or other literary work.
[1620-30; < ML tendentia. See TEND1, -ENCY]
Syn. 1. TENDENCY, DIRECTION, TREND, DRIFT refer to inclination or line of action or movement. A TENDENCY is an inclination toward a certain line of action (whether or not the action follows), and is often the result of inherent qualities, nature, or habit: a tendency to procrastinate. DIRECTION is the line along which an object or course of action moves, often toward some set point or intended goal: The change is in the direction of improvement.
TREND emphasizes simultaneous movement in a certain direction of a number of factors, although the course or goal may not be clear for any single feature: Business indicators showed a downward trend. DRIFT emphasizes gradual development as well as direction: the drift of his argument. 2. proclivity, leaning.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • tendency — tendency, trend, drift, tenor can mean a movement or course having a particular direction and character or the direction and character which such a movement or course takes. Tendency usually implies an inherent or acquired inclination in a person …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Tendency — Tend en*cy, n.; pl. {Tendencies}. [L. tendents, entis, p. pr. of tendere: cf. F. tendance. See {Tend} to move.] Direction or course toward any place, object, effect, or result; drift; causal or efficient influence to bring about an effect or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tendency — [ten′dən sē] n. pl. tendencies [ML tendentia < L tendens, prp. of tendere, to TEND2] 1. an inclination to move or act in a particular direction or way; constant disposition to some action or state; leaning; bias; propensity; bent 2. a course… …   English World dictionary

  • tendency — [n1] inclination to think or do in a certain way addiction, affection, bent*, bias, current, custom, disposition, drift, habit, impulse, inclining, leaning, liability, mind, mindset*, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity …   New thesaurus

  • tendency — I noun aptitude, aptness, bearing, bent, bias, character, direction, disposition, facility, gift, gravitation, idiosyncrasy, inclinatio, inclination, instinct, leaning, natural disposition, nature, partiality, penchant, predisposition, prejudice …   Law dictionary

  • tendency — 1620s, from M.L. tendentia inclination, leaning, from L. tendens, prp. of tendere to stretch, aim (see TENET (Cf. tenet)). Earlier in same sense was tendaunce (mid 15c.), from O.Fr. tendance …   Etymology dictionary

  • tendency — ► NOUN (pl. tendencies) 1) an inclination towards a particular characteristic or type of behaviour. 2) a group within a larger political party or movement …   English terms dictionary

  • Tendency — The word tendency is often used by left wing groups for an organized unit or political faction within the group. It may also refer to:* Bleeding tendency * Central tendency * Debs Tendency * Direct Action Tendency * Fist and Rose Tendency *… …   Wikipedia

  • tendency */*/ — UK [ˈtendənsɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms tendency : singular tendency plural tendencies Get it right: tendency: When a verb comes after tendency, use the pattern tendency to do something (not tendency of doing something ): Wrong: …the… …   English dictionary

  • tendency — ten|den|cy W3S3 [ˈtendənsi] n plural tendencies [Date: 1600 1700; : Medieval Latin; Origin: tendentia, from Latin tendere; TEND] 1.) if someone or something has a tendency to do or become a particular thing, they are likely to do or become it a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tendency — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ clear, great, marked, pronounced, strong ▪ slight ▪ greater, growing, increased …   Collocations dictionary

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