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tense¹

(tĕns)

adj. tens·er, tens·est

1. Tightly stretched; taut. See Synonyms at stiff, tight.

a. In a state of nervous tension or mental strain: was very tense before the exam.

b. Causing or characterized by nervous tension or mental strain: a tense standoff between border patrols.

3. Linguistics Enunciated with taut muscles, as the sound (ē) in keen.

tr. & intr.v. tensed, tens·ing, tens·es

To make or become tense.

[Latin tēnsus, past participle of tendere, to stretch; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

tensely adv.

tenseness n.

tense²

(tĕns)

n.
Grammar

1. A property of verbs in which the time of the action or state, as well as its continuance or completion, is indicated or expressed.

2. A category or set of verb forms that indicate or express the time, such as past, present, or future, of the action or state.

[Middle English tens, from Old French, time, from Latin tempus.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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