tendency

tendency
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 or apparent course toward some purpose, object, or result; drift
3. a definite purpose or point of view in something said or written
SYN.- TENDENCY refers to an inclination or disposition to move in a particular direction or act in a certain way, esp. as a result of some inherent quality or habit [he has a tendency toward exaggeration ]; TREND suggests a general direction, with neither a definite course nor goal, subject to change or fluctuation by some external force [a recent trend in literature ]; CURRENT differs from TREND in connoting a clearly defined course, but one also subject to change [the current of one's life ]; DRIFT refers either to the course along which something is being carried or driven [the drift toward absolute conformity ] or to a course taken by something that has unstated implications [what is the drift of this argument? ]; TENOR, equivalent in this connection to DRIFT, connotes more strongly the clarity or purport of the unstated purpose or objective [the general tenor of the Bill of Rights ]

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — [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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