I. ˈten(t)s noun
Etymology: Middle English tens time, tense, from Anglo-French, from Latin tempus
Date: 14th century
1. : a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes
2.
a. : a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions of time
b. : an inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction
II. adjective
( tens·er ; tens·est )
Etymology: Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere to stretch — more at thin
Date: 1668
1. : stretched tight : made taut : rigid
tense muscles
2.
a. : feeling or showing nervous tension
a tense smile
b. : marked by strain or suspense
a tense thriller
3. : produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state
the vowels ē and ü in contrast with the vowels i and u̇ are tense
• tense·ly adverb
• tense·ness noun
III. verb
( tensed ; tens·ing )
Date: 1676
transitive verb
: to make tense
intransitive verb
: to become tense
tensed up and missed the putt