tendency

Noun
Synonyms: inclinationdispositionleaningpropensitytrend

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others“he had an inclination to give up too easily”“a tendency to be too strict”Synonyms: inclinationdisposition
  2. an inclination to do something“he felt leanings toward frivolity”Synonyms: leaningpropensity
  3. a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect“the alkaline inclination of the local waters”“fabric with a tendency to shrink”Synonyms: inclination
  4. a general direction in which something tends to move“the shoreward tendency of the current”“the trend of the stock market”Synonyms: trend
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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 result. [1913 Webster]

Writings of this kind, if conducted with candor, have a more particular tendency to the good of their country. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

In every experimental science, there is a tendency toward perfection. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Disposition; inclination; proneness; drift; scope; aim. [1913 Webster]

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