Webster's English Dictionary

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tense

Cross references:
  1. stiff                  2. tight                 
 
1. tense \'ten(t)s\ n [ME tens time, tense, fr. MF, fr. L tempus - more at 
   TEMPORAL)M 1: a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of 
   time  2a: a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions 
   of time  2b: a particular inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific 
   time dis tinction
2. tense aj [L tensus, fr. pp. of tendere to stretch - more at THIN] 1: 
   stretched tight : made taut : RIGID  2a: feeling or showing nervous tension 
   : HIGH-STRUNG, JITTERYM 2b: marked by strain or suspense  of a speech sound 
    3: produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state {the v 
   owels /e-/ and /u|:/ in contrast with the vowels /i/ and /u./ are ~} - 
   tense.ly av
3. tense vt : to make tense to become tense