Origin

This character combines the thread radical on the left, which points to something made of or related to fiber, with the component "従" on the right that primarily serves as a sound hint for the pronunciation. The thread radical suggests the idea of strands or lines, while the sound component helps indicate how the character should be read. Over time, "vertical" became the main meaning, likely because threads in weaving often run vertically, creating the long strands and linear quality the word describes. The wayward or self-indulgent meanings probably developed as extended senses from the core idea of something going in its own direction, much like a single thread might follow its own path.