Word: tendency

Associations

A tendency is an inclination or a likelihood to behave or react in a certain way. It often reflects a pattern or a habit.

• For example, "She has a tendency to procrastinate." Here, it means she often delays her tasks.
• Another example is, "There is a tendency for people to become more health-conscious." This means more people are likely to pay attention to their health.
• Lastly, "He showed a tendency towards optimism during the meeting." This means he had a habit of looking at the positive side.

A synonym for "tendency" is "inclination." The difference is that "inclination" often implies a more personal or emotional pull toward something, while "tendency" implies a broader pattern or trend.

Substitution

You can replace "tendency" with words like "habit," "trend," or "leaning."

• If you say "habit," it suggests a strong personal behavior (e.g., "She has a habit of waking up early").
• "Trend" refers more to wider patterns in society (e.g., "There is a trend in fashion towards vintage styles").
• "Leaning" can suggest a stronger or more conscious choice (e.g., "He has a leaning towards environmental issues").

Deconstruction

The word "tendency" comes from the Latin root "tendere," which means "to stretch." The prefix "ten-" means to hold, while the suffix "-dency" indicates a quality or state. Together, this suggests a stretching toward a direction or a behavior.

Inquiry

• In what situations do you notice your own tendencies?
• Can you think of a time when a tendency of yours helped or hindered you?
• How does the tendency of your friends or family influence your behavior?