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Where does the word "induction" come from? It comes from Latin inducere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "induction" come from? It comes from Latin inducere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Induction’s story begins in Latin: inducere meant “to lead in, to introduce.” To lead in, to introduce, from in- (in) and ducere (to lead). It reached English by 1400s as induction. Settled as the English word for reasoning from specific examples to a general rule. Today, induction means the process of reasoning from specific observations to a broader general conclusion.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient inducere "to lead in, to introduce", to lead in, to introduce, from in- (in) and ducere (to lead).
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s induction "reasoning from specific examples to a general rule", settled as the English word for reasoning from specific examples to a general rule.