tension 
high-tension charge, or a charge of high-tension elec- 
tricity, and a conductor to carry a high-tension current, 
when the stress in the medium surrounding the body or 
the conductor is high. In magnetism, an electromagnet 
surrounded by a coil of many turns and high electrical 
resistance was called by Henry a Imsion magnet. 
Potential is the scientific term for the electrical condi- 
tion for which the word tension has been used. 
Jour. Franklin Inst., CXXV. 57. 
5. Mental strain, stretch, or application; strong 
or severe intellectual effort ; strong excitement 
of feeling; great activity or strain of the emo- 
tions or the will. 
When the tension of mind relating to their daily affairs 
was over, they sunk into fallow rest. 
Mrs. Gashett, North and South, xl. 
In desiring the mind is in a state of active tension. 
J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. 579. 
The states of tension have as positive an influence as any 
in determining the total condition, and in deciding what 
the psychosis shall be. W. James, Prin. of Psychol., 1. 235. 
6. A strained state of any kind: as, political 
tension; social tension. 7. An attachment to 
a sewing-machine for regulating the strain of 
the thread. It is made in a variety of forms, the aim be- 
ing in all cases to put a pressure on the thread to prevent 
it from running from the spool top freely, and to adjust 
the strain on the thread to the thickness of the cloth. 
Initial tension. See initial. Surface tension. See 
surface-tension. 
tension (ten'shon), v. t. [< tension, .] To 
make tense; give the right degree of tension 
to ; draw out ; strain. The Engineer, LXXI. 120. 
[Eecent.] 
A highly tensioned string. Tyndall. 
tensional (ten'shpn-al), a. [< tension + -al.~] 
Of or pertaining to tension ; of the nature of 
tension. 
Such members of a structure as are subject to torsional, 
tensional, or transverse stresses. 
W. H. Greenwood, Steel and Iron, p. 71. 
tension-bar (ten'shon-bar), n. A bar by means 
of which a strain of tension is applied, or by 
which such a strain is resisted. See cut under 
car-truck. 
tension-bridge (ten'shpn-brij), n. 1. Same as 
bowstring-bridf/e. E. H. Knight. 2. A form of 
bridge formerly used for street spans, consist- 
ing essentially of wooden pieces anchored at 
the ends, and strained to maintain them as 
nearly level as possible. E. H. Knight. 
tension-fuse (ten'shon-fuz), . See/use 2 . 
tension-member (te"n / shon-mem*'ber), n. A 
rod, bar, or beam forming a member of a frame, 
truss, beam, or girder, and serving to bear the 
tensile strain. 
tension-rod (ten'shon-rod), n. A rod in a truss 
or structure which connects opposite parts and 
keeps them from spreading asunder. 
tension-roller (ten'shon-ro'ler), n. An idler, 
or free pulley, resting' against a belt for the 
purpose of keeping it stretched tight against 
its working pulleys ; a tighteniug-pulley. See 
cut under idle-wheel. 
tension-spicule (ten'shou-spik'ul), . In 
sponges, a flesh-spicule or microsclere. Bower- 
bank. 
tension-spring (ten'shon-spring), n. A spring 
formed of inner and outer leaves, of which the 
latter are not connected at the middle with the 
former, all being secured together at the ends. 
A pressure upon the outer leaves induces a tensile strain 
upon the inner ones, which, when stretched to a straight 
line, form chords to the outer leaves, and thus limit the 
yielding of the spring. E. H. Knight. 
tensity (ten'si-ti), n. [< tense* + -ity.~\ The 
state of being tense; tenseness. Imp. Diet. 
tensive (ten'siv), a. [< F. tensif = Pg. It. ten- 
sivo; as tense 2 + -ive.~\ Giving the sensation of 
tension, stiffness, or contraction. 
A tensive pain from distension of the parts. 
Flayer, Preternatural State of Animal Humours 
tensome (ten'sum), a. Same as tendsome. 
tenson (ten'spn), n. [Also tenzon; < F. tensoit 
= Pr. tenso ='Pg. tensSo = It. temone, < L. ten- 
slo(n-), a stretching, ML. also a struggle, con- 
tention: see tension.'] A contention in verse 
between rival troubadours, before a tribunal 
of love or gallantry; hence, a subdivision of a 
chanson composed by one of the contestants 
or competitors; also, one of the pieces of verse 
sung by the competitors, for which a peculiar 
meter was thought appropriate. 
While, out of dream, his day's work went 
To tune a crazy teiumi or sirvent. 
Browning, Sordello, ii. 
tensor (ten'sor), n. and a. [NL., < L. tendere, 
pp. tensus, stretch: see tend 1 , tense*.] I. . ; 
pi. tensores (ten-so'rez). 1. In aiiat., one of 
several muscles which tighteu a part, or make 
6234 
it tense, or put it upon the stretch: differ- 
ing from an extensor in not changing the rela- 
tive position or direction of the axis of the 
part: opposed to laxator. 2. In math., the 
modulus of a quaternion; the ratio in which it 
stretches the length of a vector. If the quater- 
nion is put into the form xi -\- yj+2k + w, the tensor is 
y(x x +y 2 + z'* -t- w a ). If the quaternion is expressed as 
a matrix, the tensor is the square root of the determi- 
nant of the matrix. Abbreviated Z 7 . Right tensor. See 
rijlit Tensor fasciae late. Same as tensor vagina 
femarix. Tensor laminse posterioris vaginae recti 
abdominis, small anomalous muscular slips arising near 
the internal inguinal opening, and inserted into the trans- 
versalis fascia beneath the rectus abdominis. Tensor 
palati. Same as circumftexus palati. See palatum. 
Tensor parapatagli, in orntth., the tightener of the 
parapatagium, a propatagial slip of the cucullar muscle 
which joins the propatagialis longus ; the dermotensor 
patagii. Tensor patagli, tensor plicae alaris, a mus- 
cle of birds which stretches the foltf of skin on the front 
border of the wing, in the reentrance between the upper 
arm and the forearm : several modifications of such a 
muscle are described, and made use of to some extent 
in classifying birds. Tensor propatagli brevis or lon- 
gus. Same as pfopatafftutl bn>rix or loti'iux. See propa- 
tagialis. Tensor tarsi. See tarsus. Tensor trochleae, 
the tightener of the pulley of the trochlear or superior 
oblique muscle of the eyeball, a small muscle occasionally 
found in man. Tensor tympani, a muscle supposed 
to increase the tension of the membrani tympani by acting 
upon the malleus : it arises from the petrous section of 
the temporal bone, and adjacent parts, passes through a 
bony canal parallel with the Eustachian tube, enters the 
tympanum, and is attached to the handle of the malleus. 
Also called malledius. Tensor vaginae femqris, a 
muscle which acts upon the sheath of the thigh, in man 
arising from the anterior superior spine of the ilium, and 
inserted into the deep femoral fascia. It presents many 
modifications in other animals, being wanting in some, or 
connected with the panniculus carnosus, or external ab- 
dominal muscle, or blended with gluteal muscles. It 
belongs to the latter group, and not to the muscles of the 
front of the thigh, with which it is usually associated in 
human anatomy. Also called tensor Jascix latse, and vayi- 
niglutxus. See cut under musclel. 
II. o. In anat., noting certain muscles whose 
function is to render fascise or other structures 
tense. 
tensor-twist (ten'sor-twist), n. In Clifford's 
biquaternions, a twist multiplied by a tensor. 
ten-strike (ten'strik), . In American boicliiig, 
a stroke which knocks down all the ten pins; 
hence, figuratively, a stroke or act of any kind 
which is entirely successful or decisive. 
tensuret (ten'sur), . [< LL. tensura, a stretch- 
ing, straining, ? L. tendere, pp. tensus, stretch, 
strain : see tend 1 , tense 2 .] A stretching or strain- 
ing; tension. 
This motion upon the pressure, and the reciprocal 
thereof, which is motion upon teiuture, we use to call 
motion of liberty, which is when any body, being forced to 
a preternatural extent, . . . restoreth itself to be natural. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist., 12. 
tent 1 (tent), n. [< ME. tente, < OF. tente, tende, 
F. tente = Pr. tenda = Sp. tiewla = Pg. It. tenda, 
< ML. tenta, tenda, also tentum, a tent, also a 
place where clothes are spread out to dry, 
prop. fern, of L. tentus, pp. of tendere, stretch: 
see tend 1 . Cf. L. tentonum, a tent, from the 
same verb.] 1. A covering or shelter, or a port- 
able lodge, made of some flexible material, as 
Tent of form shown in manuscripts of nth and 12th centuries. 
(From Viollet-le-Duc's "Diet, du Mobilier fra^ais.") 
skins, coarse cloth, or canvas, supported by 
one or more poles, and stretched by means of 
cords secured to tent-pegs, or in some other 
way. Wandering tribes, as those of Asia, use tents for 
their common habitation. Among European nations the 
chief use of tents, which are generally made of canvas, 
is for soldiers in the field, the larger and more commodi- 
ous kind being for the use of general officers. Tents are 
also used in towns to shelter large occasional assemblies, 
as the spectators at a circus or the audience at a political 
or religious gathering, and in woods or uninhabited re- 
gions by campers or explorers. Large and permanent 
tents, such as are raised on posts, are known as pavilions, 
and those of an elaborate and decorative character, such as 
are set up for outdoor entertainments, are called marquees. 
And theise solempne Festes ben made with outen, in 
Hales and Tentei made of Clothes of Gold and of Tartaries 
fulle nobely. Mandemlle, Travels, p. 233. 
tent 
It was upon the Plain of Mamre, . . . 
. . . whereas the Angels came 
To Abraham in his tent, and there with him did feed. 
Drayton, Polyolbion, iii. 145. 
2f. A habitation ; a dwelling. 
Bountee so fix hath in thyn herte his tente 
That wel I wot thou wolt my socour be. 
Chaucer, A. B. C., 1. 9. 
3. A raised wooden box or platform set up in the 
open air, from which clergymen formerly used 
to preach when the hearers were too numerous 
to be accommodated within doors: still some- 
times used. [Scotch.] 
Ev'n godly meetings o' the saunts, 
By thee inspir'd, 
When gaping they besiege the tents, 
Are doubly flr'd. Burns, Scotch Drink. 
4. An apparatus used in field-photography as 
a substitute for the dark room. It commonly con- 
sists of a tripod supporting a box with a window of red or 
orange glass or fabric in front, and furnished with drapery 
at the back, so as to cover the operator and prevent ac- 
cess of white light to the interior. It is generally fitted 
with shelves and trays for holding various necessary ap- 
pliances. Now that the dry-plate has superseded the col- 
lodion process, it is very seldom used, and when used it is 
much simpler and lighter than the tent for wet plates, 
consisting usually of a small box, with sleeves through 
which the hands and amis are thrust for the purpose of 
changing the plates in the holders for fresh ones without 
exposure to light. In the latter form usually called chang- 
ing-box. A-tent, a kind of tent formed by two upright 
poles and a ridge-pole, and having its sides sloping to the 
ground without any vertical wall, thus roughly resem- 
bling the letter A. Bell tent, a tent circular in plan, with 
a single pole in the middle : so called from its shape. 
Dark tent. See def. 4. Hospital tent, a large tent 
used as a field-hospital. Shelter-tent, a kind of tent, 
easily put up and removed, used by the rank and file of 
an army on the march. The tent consists of four or more 
pieces of canvas which button to one another, and can be 
put up by means of saplings or poles that may be carried 
with the army. Each piece of canvas is carried by one 
man on his knapsack, and the number of men covered by 
each shelter-tent corresponds to the number of pieces. 
Sibley tent, a light conical tent having a ventilator at 
the top. It admits of a fire being made in the center, and 
will accommodate twelve men with their accoutrements, 
the men sleeping with their feet to the fire : named from 
Major H. H. Sibley, United States Dragoons. Wall-tent, 
a tent which has low upright walls formed of hanging cur- 
tains of canvas, the sloping top not reaching as far as the 
tent-pegs. 
tent* (tent), v. i. [< tent 1 , n.] To pitch one's 
tent ; live in or as in a tent. 
The smiles of knaves 
Tent in my cheeks, and schoolboys' tears take up 
The glasses of my sight. Shalt., Cor., iii. 2. 116. 
We will be gone for some days probably, tenting it in the 
open air. Kane, Sec. Grinnell Exp., I. 357. 
Where the red chieftain tented 
In the days that are gone. 
K. W. Gilder, Ballad of the Chimney. 
tent 2 (tent), v. t. [< ME. tenten, also tempten, < 
OF. tenter, tempter, tanter, F. tenter = Sp. Pg. 
ten tar = It. tentare, try, tempt, < L. tentare, temp- 
tare, handle, touch, feel, try, test, tempt, etc., 
freq. of tenere, pp. tentun, hold (see tenant 1 ), 
or, according to some, of tendere, pp. tentus or 
tensus, stretch : see tend 1 . Cf. tempt, the same 
word in another form.] If. To try; test. 
Telamon, the tore kyng, tentes hir so wele, 
And is fuerser of folke by a felle nowmber, 
And lappis in hir loue, that leue hir he nyll. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 3147. 
2. To probe ; sound. 
Search my wound deeper ; tent it with the steel 
That made it. Webster, White Devil, v. 2. 
I have a sword dares tent a wound as far 
As any. Shirley, Maid's Revenge, iii. 6. 
3. To apply a tent or pledget to; keep open 
with a tent. 
I have been bred in Paris, and learned my humanities 
and my cursus medendi as well as some that call them- 
selves learned leeches. Methinks I can tent this wound, 
and treat it with emollients. 
Scott, Fair Maid of Perth, vii. 
4f. To tempt. See tempt. 
Euelle spiritis is neghand full nere, 
That will jou tarie at this tyme with his lentyng. 
York Plays, p. 243. 
tent 2 (tent), n. [< ME. tente, < OF. (and F.) 
tente = Sp. tienta = Pg. It. tenta, < ML. tentu, 
a probe, a tent for a wound; from the verb: 
see tempt.'] If. A probe. 
Modest doubt is call'd 
The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches 
To the bottom of the worst. 
Shalt., T. and C., ii. 2. 16. 
2. In sura., a piece of some fabric, bunch of 
horsehairs or threads, or small cylinder of 
sponge, laminaria, or other substance intro- 
duced into some opening, either natural (as 
the cervical canal of the uterus) or artificial 
(as a wound), to keep it open or increase its 
caliber. 
