tenor

noun

ten·or | \ ˈte-nər

Definition of tenor

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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

adjective

Definition of tenor (Entry 2 of 2)

: relating to or having the range or part of a tenor

Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about tenor

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Choose the Right Synonym for tenor

Noun

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

Across all of these races, the Sanders/Ocasio-Cortez challengers tried to position themselves to the left of their opponents, either in tone and tenor or by championing policy proposals like free college tuition or single-payer health care. — Joshua Jamerson, WSJ, "Most Candidates Backed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders Falter," 8 Aug. 2018 His slightly cracked and windburned tenor is empathy rendered as sound, a voice whose weary, grainy tone holds both pain and comfort. — Mark Richardson, WSJ, "‘WARM’ by Jeff Tweedy Review: The Sweet Spot Between Personal and Universal," 28 Nov. 2018 What changed council members’ minds about the head tax, though, was the tenor of the campaign to oppose it, which began to morph into a broad criticism of Seattle’s city council and its members. — Alana Semuels, The Atlantic, "How Amazon Helped Kill a Seattle Tax On Business," 13 June 2018 Five days earlier, the Met had announced that Bryan Hymel, the star tenor slated to sing Roméo, was sick and would be replaced by Charles Castronovo for all six performances. — Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, "Review: Third Tenor’s Not Quite a Charm in the Met’s ‘Roméo’," 24 Apr. 2018 Observers of the soap opera-style Trump-Kim summit drama could be forgiven for thinking that a fragile courtship is underway, where the tenor of each side’s statements will determine whether the two can agree to sit down together. — Washington Post, "Analysis: Wide US-North Korea gulf over nuclear deal terms," 26 May 2018 Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn held down the drum chair while saxophonist Antoine Roney dug into both tenor and soprano saxophones. — Sean J. O'connell, latimes.com, "At Playboy Jazz Fest, a 17-year-old wonder, an 83-year-old master and tributes to Hef and Miles Davis," 10 June 2018 Janice Chandler Eteme will be singing soprano, Rodrick Dixon tenor and Jonte Mayon alto. — Jarvis Deberry, NOLA.com, "'Crucifixion Resurrection' is composer Hannibal Lokumbe's response to Charleston church shooting," 8 Mar. 2018 Tell us very briefly what happened on Sunday that all Americans must know, given the tenor of this debate and discourse today. — Fox News, "Ingraham: The new American left: agents of hatred," 12 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tenor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for tenor

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