an inclination or predisposition to do something, or to a particular characteristic
(usu + to) an inclination or predisposition to do something, or to have a particular characteristic
His books show a tendency to drop into sentimentality
a general trend or movement
There is a growing tendency for prices to rise faster than wages
a usu radical group working within a political party, etc
the militant tendency
[medieval Latin tendentia, from Latin tendent-, tendens, present part. of tendere to stretch]