Tense
/tΙns/noun
A grammatical category that locates a situation in time.
Did you know?The term 'tense' originates from the Latin 'tensus', meaning 'stretched', hinting at the emotional weight language can carry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten(e)
βto stretch, extend, or strainβ
Latin
Latin
tensus
βstretched, strained, tenseβ
Latin
Latin
tensio
βa stretching, tensionβ
Old French
Old French
tens
βstretched, tenseβ
14th Century
Middle English
tense
βstretched, in a state of tensionβ
Modern English
English
tense
βa grammatical term relating to time and aspect.β