Tenner, ten′ėr, n. (slang) a ten-pound note.
Tennis, ten′is, n. an ancient game for two to four persons, played with ball and rackets within a building specially constructed for the purpose: lawn-tennis (q.v.), a modern imitation of the former.—ns. Tenn′is-ball, a ball used in the game of tennis; Tenn′is-court, a place or court for playing at tennis. [Skeat suggests O. Fr. tenies, pl. of tenie, a fillet—L. tænia.]
Tenon, ten′un, n. a projection at the end of a piece of wood inserted into the socket or mortise of another, to hold the two together.—v.t. to fit with tenons.—ns. Ten′oner, a machine for forming tenons; Ten′on-saw, a thin back-saw for tenons, &c. [Fr. tenon—tenir, to hold—L. tenēre.]
Tenor, ten′ur, n. continuity of state: general run or currency: purport: the higher of the two kinds of voices usually belonging to adult males: the part next above the bass in a vocal quartet: one who sings tenor.—adj. pertaining to the tenor in music.—ns. Ten′or-clef, the C clef, placed on the fourth line; Ten′orist. [L. tenor—tenēre, to hold.]
Tenpenny, ten′pen-i, adj. worth or sold at tenpence.
Tenpins, ten′pinz, n. a game played in a bowling-alley, the aim being to bowl down ten pins set up at the far end.
Tenrec, ten′rek, n. a genus of Insectivora, of one species, 12 to 16 inches long, with squat body and hardly any tail, found in Madagascar and Mauritius.—Also Tan′rec. [Malagasy.]
Tense, tens, n. time in grammar, the form of a verb to indicate the time of the action. [O. Fr. tens (Fr. temps)—L. tempus, time.]
Tense, tens, adj. strained to stiffness: rigid.—adv. Tense′ly.—ns. Tense′ness, state of being tense; Tensibil′ity, Tensil′ity, quality of being tensile.—adjs. Ten′sible, Ten′sile, capable of being stretched.—ns. Ten′sion, act of stretching: state of being stretched or strained: strain: effort: strain in the direction of the length, or the degree of it: mental strain, excited feeling: a strained state of any kind; Ten′sion-rod, a rod in a structure holding together different parts; Ten′sity, tenseness: state of being tense.—adj. Ten′sive, giving the sensation of tenseness or stiffness.—n. Ten′sor, a muscle that tightens a part. [L. tensus, pa.p. of tendĕre, to stretch.]
Tenson, ten′son, n. a competition in verse between two troubadours before a tribunal of love, also a subdivision of the chanson composed at such.—Also Ten′zon. [Fr.,—L. tensio, a struggle.]