a. Also -cious. [as if f. med.L. tendenti-a TENDENCY + -OUS, after G. tendenziös.] Having a purposed tendency; composed or written with such a tendency or aim.
1894. W. O. Partridge, Art for America, 176. This purpose to excite indignation must be set down as inartistic, as all tendentious purpose in art is.
1900. T. Davidson, Hist. Educ., I. iv. 70. Xenophon’s Cyropædia … is a mere edifying, tendentious romance, intended to recommend to the Athenians the Spartan type of education.
1905. Times, Lit. Suppl., 28 July, 239/2. He [Zimmer, in ‘Die Keltische Kirche’] thinks that the legend of St. Patrick was tendencious, springing up to support a special ecclesiastical thesis.
1909. C. Lowe, in Contemp. Rev., July, 42. A false and tendencious account of what had taken place.
