Etymologically
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tensus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtẽː.sʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtɛn.sus][1]

Forms

tēnsus (feminine tēnsa, neuter tēnsum); first/second-declension participle[1] The form tentus is also used.[2]

Etymology

It is a participle of tendō “to stretch”, inherited from Proto-Italic *tensos, a later analogical form beside ⟨tentus⟩.[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Priapea (1st century AD).[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant strained tight, taut, tense, and in Martial was used in an erotic context.[2]

It survives in Italian teso, Spanish tieso and Romanian tins, and gave English tense in the 1660s, “stretched tight”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 1st century AD – The Priapea uses it.[4]
  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it.[2][4]
  • 1660s – English tense (adjective) is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Stretched tight, taut, tense.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de