I. ˈte-thər noun
Etymology: Middle English tethir, teder, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tjōthr tether; akin to Old High German zeotar pole of a wagon
Date: 14th century
1. : something (as a rope or chain) by which an animal is fastened so that it can range only within a set radius
2. : the limit of one's strength or resources
at the end of my tether
II. transitive verb
( teth·ered ; teth·er·ing -th(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 15th century
: to fasten or restrain by or as if by a tether
felt tether ed to her desk until the work was done