tenor

noun

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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

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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 But moments of normalcy spent on standard basketball threads like defensive strategy or forward Kai Jones’ playmaking travails were overshadowed by the coach’s troubled tenor. — Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, "Texas coach Shaka Smart strikes a different tone following bout with COVID-19," 1 Feb. 2021 But when Patrick Jones — a former Redding mayor who defeated an incumbent supervisor in the November election — joined the board this month, the tenor changed. — Anchorage Daily News, "A day before Capitol attack, pro-Trump crowd stormed meeting, threatened officials in rural California," 11 Jan. 2021 Featuring David Rugger, bass-baritone; Zackery Morris, tenor; Allison Gish, mezzo-soprano; Emily Yocum Black, soprano. — Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, "Happy Holidays! Here are 40+ festive events (some virtual!) taking place around Louisville," 19 Nov. 2020 Sun Ra died in 1993 but the ensemble carried on, initially led by tenor saxophonist John Gilmore. — Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, "Fall music preview: 20 albums you need to add to your playlist from BTS to Elvis Costello," 23 Sep. 2020 McKinnon and Levy have a nice agreement on the tenor of their partygoers: passive-aggressive, wheedling, and ultimately, fickle. — Matthew Love, Vulture, "Saturday Night Live Recap: Dan Levy Scores a Football Hole," 7 Feb. 2021 The tenor of the special meeting was cordial and nuanced, a stark reversal from the last time the commissioners met to discuss the Fair Park vaccine site in South Dallas. — Nic Garcia, Dallas News, "Dallas County aims to right COVID vaccine distribution with these steps," 27 Jan. 2021 But the emotional tenor of the Trump years hasn’t exactly been a gift to the arts, either. — Judy Berman, Time, "Donald Trump's Presidency Was Supposed to Be Great for Art. It Wasn't," 5 Jan. 2021 But the tenor of the conference overall was largely different for someone in attendance for the full event. — Anthony Leonardi, Washington Examiner, "Young conservatives rally at Turning Point summit like Trump never lost," 23 Dec. 2020

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

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