Tendent

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Inclined or directed toward a particular course, aim, or outcome, especially in an archaic or rare sense
2. Showing a leaning or bent toward a certain direction of thought, action, or development
3. Having a disposition that moves in a specific direction, as a rare and somewhat old-fashioned term

Etymology: The Latin verb "tendere" meant "to stretch," and its present participle "tendens" gave English this rare adjective, meaning "stretching toward" or "inclined in a certain direction." The literal sense of stretching out is still visible in its relatives. "Tendency," "intend," and "pretend" all come from the same Latin verb, and "intend" once meant to stretch one's attention toward something. The everyday verb "tend," meaning to look after, comes from a different route. It is a shortening of "attend," from Old French "atendre" and Latin "attendere," meaning to stretch toward or give heed to. So "tend" the caregiver and "tendent" the inclined share a Latin ancestor of stretching, but they reached English through separate paths.