"having a definite purpose," 1871, formed after or from German tendenziös, from Tendenz "tendency," from Medieval Latin tendentia (see tendency).
Entries linking to tendentious
tendency n.
1620s, from Medieval Latin tendentia "inclination, leaning," from Latin tendens, present participle of tendere "to stretch, extend, aim" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). Earlier in same sense was tendaunce (mid-15c.), from Old French tendance.