tenor

1 of 2

noun

ten·​or ˈte-nər How to pronounce tenor (audio)
1
a
: the highest natural adult male singing voice
also : a person having this voice
b
: the voice part next to the lowest in a 4-part chorus
c
: a member of a family of instruments having a range next lower than that of the alto
d
: the melodic line usually forming the cantus firmus in medieval music
2
a
: the drift of something spoken or written : purport
b
: an exact copy of a writing : transcript
c
: the concept, object, or person meant in a metaphor
3
: a continuance in a course, movement, or activity
4
: habitual condition : character

tenor

2 of 2

adjective

: relating to or having the range or part of a tenor
Choose the Right Synonym for tenor

tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction.

tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces

the drift of the population away from large cities

or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

got the drift of her argument

tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

Examples of tenor in a Sentence

Noun He has a high, lilting tenor. She asked the tenors to sing the line again. The tenor of his remarks is clear. Adjective Verdi wrote some difficult tenor parts. She plays the tenor sax.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In addition to his outstanding contributions to our theatrical productions, Jonathan serves as a tenor 1 section leader in the choir. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Brad Dalton directs a cast that includes tenor WooYoung Yoon as Tamino, Melissa Sondhi as Pamina, baritone Ricardo rJosé Rivera as Papageno and Emily Misch as Queen of the Night. Georgia Rowe, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Changing the tenor of what’s being aired was a top priority. Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 Andrea Bocelli When celebrated tenor Andrea Bocelli returned to touring for the first time after the pandemic began, Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum was the first stop. Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024 Presented by Detroit’s oldest choir, Rackham Choir, the joyous program features fiery soloists Rodrick Dixon, tenor; Alfreda Burke, soprano; and Karen Marie Richardson, mezzo-soprano. Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 Artistic director Eugene Rogers and his formidable Washington Chorus will be joined by soprano Caitlin Lynch, mezzo-soprano Antona Yost, tenor Norman Shankle, the Children’s Chorus of Washington and the University of Michigan Chamber Choir for what promises to be a powerhouse choral performance. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 An Egyptian official briefed on the talks after a first day of high-level negotiations on Tuesday ended without an agreement described the tenor of the negotiations as positive. Michael Levenson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 That should be a cue to change the tenor of his candidacy. Richard Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tenor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tenor, tenoure, tenure "main point of a document, intent of a legal agreement, continued presence or sustained course, part carrying the cantus firmus melody in contrapuntal music," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French tenur, tenure "import of a document," borrowed from Medieval Latin tenōr-, tenor "sustained course, continuity, condition, drift of a law or document, tone of the voice, cantus firmus melody in contrapuntal music," going back to Latin, "sustained course, continuity, tone of the voice," from tenēre "to hold, possess" + -ōr-, -or, going back to *-ōs-, deverbal noun suffix of state — more at tenant entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1522, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tenor

Cite this Entry

“Tenor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenor. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tenor

1 of 2 noun
ten·​or ˈten-ər How to pronounce tenor (audio)
1
: the general meaning of something spoken or written
the tenor of the book
2
a
: the next to lowest musical part in harmony for four parts compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, soprano entry 2 sense 1
b
: the highest natural adult male singing voice or a person who has such a voice
c
: a person or instrument performing a part next above a bass part
3
: a continuing in a course, movement, or activity
the tenor of my life

tenor

2 of 2 adjective
: relating to or having the range or part of a tenor
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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