tenor
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Latin tenor (“holder”), from teneō (“hold”). In music, from the notion of the one who holds the melody as opposed to the countertenor.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
tenor (plural tenors)
| Examples (A tenor singing "O Canada") | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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- (archaic, music) Musical part or section that holds or performs the main melody, as opposed to the contratenor bassus and contratenor altus, who perform countermelodies.
- (obsolete) duration; continuance; a state of holding on in a continuous course; general tendency; career.
- Gray
- Along the cool sequestered vale of life / They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
- Gray
- (music) Musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.
- A person, instrument, or group that performs in the tenor (higher than bass and lower than alto) range.
- Tone, as of a conversation.
- 1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter XI, page 145:
- Colonel Walton, who had striven to check the conversation at moments when he became conscious of its tenor, now gladly engaged his guest on other and more legitimate topics.
- 1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter XI, page 145:
- (linguistics) The subject in a metaphor to which attributes are ascribed.
- (finance) Time to maturity of a bond.
- Stamp; character; nature.
- Dryden
- This success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same tenor.
- Dryden
- (law) An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport, which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Bouvier to this entry?)
- That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.
- Shakespeare
- When it [the bond] is paid according to the tenor.
- Spart
- Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?
- Shakespeare
Derived terms [edit]
Coordinate terms [edit]
- (voice types): soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)
Translations [edit]
musical range
musical performer
tone
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
See also [edit]
Adjective [edit]
tenor (not comparable)
- of or pertaining to the tenor part or range
- He has a tenor voice.
Translations [edit]
of or pertaining to the tenor part or range
Anagrams [edit]
Danish [edit]
Noun [edit]
tenor c (singular definite tenoren, plural indefinite tenorer)
- tenor (musical range, person, instrument or group performing in the tenor range)
Inflection [edit]
Inflection of tenor
| common gender | Singular | Plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
| nominative, dative and accusative | tenor | tenoren | tenorer | tenorerne |
| genitive | tenors | tenorens | tenorers | tenorernes |
Latin [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From teneō (“hold”).
Noun [edit]
tenor (genitive tenōris); m, third declension
Inflection [edit]
| Number | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | tenor | tenōrēs |
| genitive | tenōris | tenōrum |
| dative | tenōrī | tenōribus |
| accusative | tenōrem | tenōrēs |
| ablative | tenōre | tenōribus |
| vocative | tenor | tenōrēs |
