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 */*/ — 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
