n. - a male singing-voice between baritone and alto or counter-tenor. B singer with this voice.

- (often attrib.) Instrument with a similar range.

- (usu. Foll. By of) general meaning.

- (usu. Foll. By of) prevailing course, esp. Of a person's life or habits. [latin teneo hold]

—adj. - stretched tight, strained.

- causing tenseness (tense moment). —v. (-sing) make or become tense. tense up become tense. tensely adv. Tenseness n. [latin tensus: related to *tend1]

- n. - form of a verb indicating the time (also the continuance or completeness) of the action etc.

- set of such forms as a paradigm. [latin tempus time]

adj. & n. - next after ninth.

- any of ten equal parts of a thing. tenthly adv.

n. (also teepee) n. American indian's conical tent. [dakota]

adj. - lukewarm.

- unenthusiastic. tepidity n. Tepidly adv. [latin]

of reference n.pl. Scope of an inquiry etc.; definition of this.

firma n. Dry land, firm ground. [latin]

- incognita n. Unexplored region. [latin, = unknown land]

n. (often attrib.) Looped pile fabric used esp. For towels and nappies. [origin unknown]

adj. (terser, tersest) 1 brief, concise.

- curt, abrupt. tersely adv. Terseness n. [latin tergo ters- wipe]

n. Si unit of magnetic induction. [tesla, name of a scientist]