also countertendency, "natural or prevailing disposition" in some direction, especially opposed to some other tendency, 1849, from counter- + tendency.
Entries linking to counter-tendency
counter-
word-forming element used in English from c. 1300 and meaning "against, in opposition; in return; corresponding," from Anglo-French countre-, French contre-, from Latin contra "opposite, contrary to, against, in return," also used as a prefix (see contra (prep., adv.)). A doublet of contra-. In some cases it probably represents a purely English use of counter (adv.).
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.