Middle English Dictionary Entry
tens(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | tens(e n.(1) Also tins & (error) thyn; pl. tens, tensus. |
| Etymology | OF tens, teins. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. temps n.
1.
(a) A period of time; (b) gram. one of the inflectional categories in the conjugation of the verb, having to do with placement of the action or state in past, present, or future time; future (presente, etc.) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)38/1061 : Seter [read: Beter] hys þat hy a lyte do Her ine obedience, And foluelle þat remenaunt Ine purgatoryes tense Eft-sone.
b
- c1425 Lin-O.Accedence (Lin-O Lat.130)157 : A verbe..ys clynud wit mod & wit tens.
- c1425 Lin-O.Accedence (Lin-O Lat.130)158 : How many þynggus fals to a verbe? viii. Wyche viii? Mode & coniugaciun, forme or gendur..thyn [read: thyns].
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Cmb Mm.2.15)p.57 : A participle of a present tens either preterit..mai be resoluid into a verbe of the same tens and a coniunccioun copulatif.
- c1450 Add.19046 Treat.Syntax (Add 19046)206/635 : What party of speche ys 'faturus'? A partycipull of the firste futer tens.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.259 : She hadde maystres..To teeche hir of retoryk and gramer the scole..The declynacions, þe personys, the modys, þe tens.
- c1450 Peniarth Accedence(1) (Pen 356B)5/214 : How mony tensus of verbys byn þer?
- c1450 Peniarth Accedence(1) (Pen 356B)13/210-12 : How many tens byn þer? v: The present tens, preterinperfitens, preterperfite tens, preterpluperfyte tens, and futur tens.
- a1500 Add.37075 Accedence (Add 37075)47/133 : How know ye the coniunctyff mode? For he joynyth mode to mode, tens to tens.