TENOR • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Tenor

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/tˈɛnər/ Listen

noun

Tenor n.

1.

A state of holding on in a continuous course; manner of continuity; constant mode; general tendency; course; career. "Along the cool sequestered vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their away."

2.

That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding. "When it (the bond) is paid according to the tenor." "Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?"

3.

Stamp; character; nature. "This success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same tenor."

4.

(Law) An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport, which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.

5.

(Mus.)

(a)

The higher of the two kinds of voices usually belonging to adult males; hence, the part in the harmony adapted to this voice; the second of the four parts in the scale of sounds, reckoning from the base, and originally the air, to which the other parts were auxillary.

(b)

A person who sings the tenor, or the instrument that play it.

Old Tenor, New Tenor, Middle Tenor, different descriptions of paper money, issued at different periods, by the American colonial governments in the last century.

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Etymology of 'Tenor'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Tenor" Quotes from Famous Books

... would take Little Kensington into the gardens, and, placing her carefully in the corner of a bench, would retire to a short distance and pretend to be absorbed in a book, while her sharp eyes kept up the watch for a long-haired tenor, or a beautifully dressed soprano, who should suddenly rush out from the ...

— The Rudder Grangers Abroad and Other Stories • Frank R. Stockton

... troth was over, the beadle spread before the lectern in the middle of the church a piece of pink silken stuff, the choir sang a complicated and elaborate psalm, in which the bass and tenor sang responses to one another, and the priest turning round pointed the bridal pair to the pink silk rug. Though both had often heard a great deal about the saying that the one who steps first on the ...

— Anna Karenina • Leo Tolstoy

... Zeelandia, who died about 1370, is to be noticed on account of his part writing being more euphonious than that of his predecessors. He uses the third more freely, and he gives the principal melody in his chansons to the treble, and not to the tenor, as do the others. This also is in line with the British influence. Dufay was regarded by his contemporaries as the greatest composer of his time. The open note notation succeeded the black notes about 1400, or, according to Ambros, as early as 1370. ...

— A Popular History of the Art of Music - From the Earliest Times Until the Present • W. S. B. Mathews

... he had assumed. He apologised for being late, but had been button-holed by a fellow in the foyer who wanted to talk polo. Very disappointing evening altogether. The prima donna had sung flat and an understudy was on for Tenor's part. It was only as an after thought he mentioned the object of their meeting and he touched upon ...

— Men of Affairs • Roland Pertwee

... you now is the laughing trio from my second act. It is a building number. It is sung by tenor, principal comedian, and soubrette. On the second refrain four girls will come out and two boys. The girls will dance with the two men, the boys with the soubrette. So! On the encore, four more girls ...

— The Little Warrior - (U.K. Title: Jill the Reckless) • P. G. Wodehouse

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