tensilis

Forms

tēnsilis (neuter tēnsile); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed in Medieval Latin, from Latin tendō (“to stretch”) + -ilis;^[2][1] the DMLBS compares the Late Latin tēnsibilis of the same meaning.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler, following Latham, dates its first record to 1267.^[1] The DMLBS quotes Osbern of Gloucester’s Derivationes, which gives tensibilis or tensilis under tendo, and Roger Bacon, who divides musical instruments into percussive, stringed (tensilia) and wind instruments.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The sense stayed “that can be stretched or drawn out”: in Neo-Latin Poliziano, Francis Bacon and Kepler use it, Kepler of the strings of lyres.^[3][2] English tensile was borrowed from this Modern Latin word in the 1620s.^[4]

Timeline

• 1267 – Köbler, following Latham, dates its first record to this year.^[1]
• 1620s – English borrows it as tensile.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) That can be stretched or drawn out; tensile.^[2][3][1]
2. (of musical instruments) Stringed.^[2]

Related words

• tendō
• English tensile

References

1. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com