tendentia

Forms

tendentia f (genitive tendentiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin tendēns + -ia, from the present participle of tendō (“to stretch out; to be inclined”).^[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest record, from Latham, is dated 1290, with the sense of an inclination or tendency.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was a word of scholastic philosophy, used for a disposition to move or act toward some end;^[2] Duns Scotus uses it in his discussion of the will and of intention.^[2] English borrowed it in the 1620s as tendency, after the rarer tendaunce of the mid-15th century, which came from Old French tendance.^[4] German Tendenz also comes from it.^[3]

Timeline

• 1290 – The earliest record Köbler gives.^[3]
• 1620s – English borrows it as tendency.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A tendency, inclination, a disposition to move or act toward an end.^[2][1][3]

Related words

• English tendency

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com