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Added 9 October 2026

tense

/tɛns/ noun

Categories: LanguageUncommon Words

In Latin: tempus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tense at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists.
    Dyirbal verbs are not inflected for tense.
  2. An inflected form of a verb that indicates tense.
    English only has a past tense and a non-past tense; it has no future tense.
  3. A grammatical aspect.

verb

  1. To apply a tense to.
    tensing a verb

adjective

  1. Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.
    You need to relax, all this overtime and stress is making you tense.
  2. Characterized by strain (on the nerves, emotions, etc).
  3. Pulled taut, without any slack.

verb

  1. To make tense.
  2. To become tense.

Origin

From Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus. Doublet of tempo and tempus.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: uptighttightsuspensefultautsuspensivestrainstrainedwiredoverstrungrestive

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