The term convergent means "tending to meet or actually meeting in a point," and is from 1730. Converge is from the 1690s, "to tend to meet in a point or line," from Late Latin convergere "to incline together" from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + vergere "to bend, turn, tend toward."

Westerners are taught to take a series of inputs, analyze them, and then converge upon a single answer. Convergent thinking is a practical way of deciding among existing alternatives. What about creating new possibilities? The convergent phase is about eliminating options and making choices. Convergence is more about the here and now. Divergence anyone?

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Converge in the past, decide and meet at a point, incline together