Present participle of induce, meaning to bring about, cause, or stimulate something to happen. Often used in medical contexts to describe triggering labor or in scientific contexts to describe causing a reaction.
From Latin 'inducere,' meaning 'to lead into,' composed of 'in-' (into) and 'ducere' (to lead). The word entered English in the 14th century, initially meaning 'to persuade,' but expanded to include causing physical or chemical changes.
The concept of 'inducing' reveals how humans learned to trigger natural processes artificially - from inducing labor in childbirth to inducing crystallization in chemistry. This word represents humanity's transition from passive observers of nature to active manipulators of natural processes, marking a crucial step in scientific and medical advancement.
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