Etymologically
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mindset

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈmaɪn(d)ˌsɛt/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is from English mind + set, set in the sense of a habitual tendency, also written mind-set.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Habits of mind formed by earlier experience: 1916, in the jargon of educators and psychologists.[2]

Semantic evolution

It now means more generally a fixed attitude that shapes how a person responds to situations, or simply an inclination.[3][4]

Timeline

  • 1916 – mindset.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A fixed mental attitude or way of thinking that shapes how a person reacts to situations.
  2. An inclination or habit.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  4. ^ Soanes, Catherine; Stevenson, Angus, eds. (2004), Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press