Tense

a. [Lat. tensus, p. p. of tendere, to stretch; It. & O. Sp. teso, Sp. tieso, tenso, Fr. tendu, Pr. tendut.] Stretched; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as, a tense fiber.

The temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and a fatal paleness was upon her. Goldsmith.

n. [O. Fr. tens, tans, N. Fr. temps, Lat. tempus, time; tense; Pr. temps, It. & Pg. tempo, Sp. tiempo. See TEMPER.] (Gram.) One of the forms which a verb takes by inflection or by adding auxiliary words, so as to indicate the time of the action or event signified; the variation which verbs undergo for the indication of time.

☞ The primary simple tenses are three: those which express time past, present, and future; but these admit of modifications, which differ in different languages.