1580s, of imitative origin (cf. Dutch and East Frisian klikken to click; Old French clique tick of a clock). The figurative sense, in reference usually to persons, hit it off at once, become friendly upon meeting is from 1915, perhaps based on the sound of a key in a lock. Related: Clicked; clicking.
verb (used with object), induced, inducing. 1. to lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind: to induce a person to buy a raffle ticket. 2. to bring about, produce, or cause: That medicine will induce sleep.
Hypernyms (inducement is a kind of...): rational motive (a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument) Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of inducement): dynamic; moral force (an efficient incentive)