tenor Hear it!

tenor Definition

tenor (ten′ər)

noun

  1. general course or tendency the even tenor of my life
  2. general meaning; drift; purport
  3. in a metaphor, that term or concept that is described in a figurative way by the vehicle
  4. Obsolete general character or nature
  5. the exact wording or an exact copy of a legal document

    1. Etymology: ME < MFr tenour < It tenore < L tenor, a holding: the tenor voice “held” the melody (canto fermo)

      the range of a voice, often, specif., an adult male voice, between baritone and countertenor, usually from about an octave below middle C to an octave above
    2. a voice or singer with such a range
    3. an instrument with a similar range within its family, as a tenor saxophone
    4. a part for such a voice or instrument
  7. in four-part harmony, the second lowest part
  8. in a set of bells for ringing changes, the bell with the lowest tone

Etymology: OFr < L tenere, to hold: see tenant

adjective

of, for, or having the range of a tenor

tenor Synonyms

tenor

n.

  1. One with a high masculine voice

    vocalist, singer, lyric tenor, bel canto tenor, countertenor, crooner, adenoid tenor*, bathroom tenor*, gelatine tenor*, whiskey tenor*; see also musician.

  2. Tendency

    tone, course, trend, drift; see inclination 1. See syn. study at tendency.

tenor Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • sing: He delighted the audience when he introduced a special guest, Paul Williams, to sing tenor.
  • ring: He had already rung the tenor to the Stedman peal at St Sidwell's that morning.

Converse of subject

  • sing: The songs are sung by the well-known tenor Ian Partridge accompanied by Richard Burnett at the piano.

Adjective modifier

  • operatic: In 1924, John McCormack, the world famous operatic tenor, leased the house from Lord Drogheda.
  • renowned: When the renowned old tenor appeared, I got a nudge and an excited whisper: " Now you see him!
  • counter: It was also refreshing to entrust a counter tenor with the alto part.
  • Italian: Erm, that would be an album by Andre Bocelli [ an Italian tenor of some repute, should you not know ] .
  • general: I fear the general tenor of the comments you get may be negative.
  • famous: Let's take the example about the famous tenor in the active form: " The famous tenor sang the national anthem.

Modifies a noun

  • sax: Tenor sax man Atholl Ransome will be on BBC TV's Song's of Praise soon playing with the band.
  • saxophone: There is a seperate part included for tenor saxophone for versatility.
  • trombone: Would the tenor trombone be provided by the orchestra?
  • saxophonist: It's two of the most brilliant tenor saxophonists in the world.
  • clef: MW I don't play the alto when the part is printed in the tenor clef!
  • banjo: Unusually, however, she has also reached the same successful heights playing tenor banjo.

Noun used with modifier

  • lyric: Ian Partridge is one of Britain s leading lyric tenors.
  • counter: Lorna Anderson was the soprano, William Purefoy, counter tenor, and Quentin Hayes, baritone.
  • solo: Nina's musical connections go further - her husband, Richard Coxon, is a freelance solo tenor.

Preposition: in

  • choir: David in fact started off as a tenor in the choir, but his value as a superb accompanist was soon recognized.

Preposition: of

  • debate: Not that one would have thought so from the tenor of the debate around that particular part of the Bill.
tenor Quotes

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife Their sober wishes never learned to stray; Along the cool sequestered vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.

—Gray,Thomas

Browse dictionary entries near tenor

  1. ‹ tenon
  2. ‹ teno-
  3. ‹ Tennyson
  4. ‹ tennis shoes
  5. ‹ tennis shoe
  6. ‹ tennis elbow
  7. ‹ tennis bracelet
  8. ‹ tennis
  9. ‹ tennies
  10. ‹ Tenniel
  1. tenor clef ›
  2. tenorist ›
  3. tenorite ›
  4. tenorrhaphy ›
  5. tenosynovitis ›
  6. tenotomy ›
  7. tenpenny ›
  8. tenpin ›
  9. tenpins ›
  10. tenpounder ›