The word 形势 (xíngshì) is formed through a classical conceptual blend where 形 represents the tangible, visible form or layout of something (like terrain), and 势 conveys the inherent momentum, potential, or tendency arising from that configuration. It originates from the military and geographical observation that the physical shape of the land (形) dictates the strategic advantages and dynamic forces (势) at play. Thus, the compound metaphorically extends from "the lay of the land and its strategic posture" to mean the overall configuration and dynamic trends of any situation, where the visible structure informs the invisible, unfolding reality.