TENOR Meaning and
Definition
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Tenor has multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used. In music, tenor refers to the highest male voice in choral singing or opera. The tenor is known for its particular timbre and range, often characterized by having the ability to hit high notes comfortably and with clarity. It is also used to designate the individual who sings in this range.
Additionally, the term tenor is commonly employed in relation to instruments, particularly saxophones and other wind instruments. It designates the member of the family of instruments with the middle pitch range. The tenor saxophone, for instance, is larger than the alto saxophone but smaller than the baritone saxophone.
Outside the musical realm, tenor is used to describe the general trend or purport of something, frequently referring to the underlying meaning or mood. In this sense, it suggests the main point or central theme of a speech, text, or conversation. It signifies the general direction or tone of something being discussed or presented.
Furthermore, the term tenor can also refer to a continuous period of time or duration, typically used in the phrase "over the course of" or "in the tenor of." It indicates a tendency, pattern, or consistent behavior over time.
Overall, tenor encompasses various significations ranging from musical and instrumental contexts to broader realms of meaning, all with a common thread of conveying direction, timbre, trend, or pitch range.
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• General run or currency; character; stamp; purport; sense contained; general course or drift.
• The higher of the two kinds of voices usually belonging to adult males; the middle part next above the bass in a piece of music arranged for four voices; the persons who sing the tenor, or the instrument that plays it.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Etymology of TENOR
The word "tenor" is derived from the Latin word "tenere", meaning "to hold". In the context of music, it originally referred to the "holding" or sustaining of a particular pitch or melody line. In medieval and Renaissance music, the tenor part was typically the foundational voice that provided the main melodic line while other voices harmonized above or below it. Over time, the term "tenor" came to be associated with the higher male voice range that would later be identified as the "tenor voice". Today, "tenor" generally refers to the highest adult male singing voice type, often associated with roles in operas, choirs, and vocal ensembles.
Similar spelling words for TENOR
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