Tenor

Pronunciation: /ˈtɛnər/

Definitions of tenor

noun the general meaning or direction of something

Example Sentences

A1 The tenor of his voice was soothing.

A2 She couldn't quite understand the tenor of his message.

B1 The tenor of the conversation shifted from light-hearted to serious.

B2 The tenor of the speech was hopeful and inspiring.

C1 The tenor of the debate was intense and passionate.

C2 The tenor of the negotiations was diplomatic and cooperative.

Examples of tenor in a Sentence

formal The tenor of the meeting was focused on finding a solution to the budget deficit.

informal I'm not sure about the tenor of his message, it seemed a bit unclear.

slang The tenor of the party last night was off the charts!

figurative The tenor of her voice carried a sense of authority and confidence.

Grammatical Forms of tenor

• past tense: tenored
• plural: tenors
• comparative: more tenor
• superlative: most tenor
• present tense: tenors
• future tense: will tenor
• perfect tense: have tenored
• continuous tense: is tenoring
• singular: tenor
• positive degree: tenor
• infinitive: to tenor
• gerund: tenoring
• participle: tenoring

Origin and Evolution of tenor

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'tenor' originated from the Latin word 'tenere' which means 'to hold' or 'to maintain'. It was initially used in reference to the continuous line in medieval music that was held or maintained by the voices or instruments.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'tenor' expanded its meaning to refer to the second highest male singing voice, and eventually to denote a specific range of vocal or instrumental music. Today, 'tenor' is commonly used in various contexts to describe a particular pitch range or a type of voice in music.