tense

Meanings

Noun

• Any of the forms of a verb which distinguish when an action or state of being occurs or exists.
• An inflected form of a verb that indicates tense.
• The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists.

Verb

• To apply a tense to.
• To make tense.
• To become tense.

Adjective

• Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.
• Pulled taut, without any slack.

Origin

• From Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus. tempo.
• Borrowed from Latin tēnsus, one form of the past participle of tendō. Ultimately identical to Etymology 1.