Tenor
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /tɛnə(ɹ)/
- Homophones: tenner
Alternative forms
Origin
From Latin tenor ("holder"), from teneÅ ("hold"). In music, from the notion of the one who holds the melody as opposed to the countertenor.
Full definition of tenor
Noun
tenor
(plural tenors)- (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.
- GrayAlong the cool sequestered vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. - (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, s:Author:William Gilmore Simms, s:The Partisan, 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.
- (linguistics) The subject in a metaphor to which attributes are ascribed.
- (finance) Time to maturity of a bond.
- Stamp; character; nature.
- DrydenThis success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same tenor.
- (legal) 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.
- That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.
- ShakespeareWhen it bond is paid according to the tenor.
- SpartDoes not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?
Derived terms
Coordinate terms
- (voice types) soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto female; countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass male
Adjective
tenor
- of or pertaining to the tenor part or rangeHe has a tenor voice.