tenter

American  

[ten-ter] / ˈtɛn tər /

noun

• tenters
  plural

1. a framework on which cloth in the process of manufacture is stretched so it may set or dry evenly.

2. Obsolete. a tenterhook.

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verb (used with object)

1. to stretch (cloth) on a tenter or tenters.

verb (used without object)

1. to be capable of being tentered.

tenter British  

/ ˈtɛntə /

noun

1. a frame on which cloth is stretched during the manufacturing process in order that it may retain its shape while drying

2. a person who stretches cloth on a tenter

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verb

1. (tr) to stretch (cloth) on a tenter

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• untentered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tenters
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tenter

1300–50; Middle English tente to stretch (< Latin tentus, variant of tēnsus tense ¹ ) + -er ¹; replacing Middle English teyntur, of unclear derivation

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tenter tenters

Soon Jocelin himself is wrestling with the high cost of inspiration, strung taut between the tenter hooks of divine and earthly means.

From Time Magazine Archive

But I'll keep her on tenter hooks to-night.

From Helen Grant's Schooldays by Amanda M. Douglas

Syne, while I still was on the tenter, I scunnered at the new prezentor; I thocht him gesterin’ an’ cauld— A sair declension frae the auld.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 14 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson

Syne, while I still was on the tenter, I scunnered at the new prezentor; I thocht him gesterin' an' cauld - A sair declension frae the auld.

From Underwoods by Robert Louis Stevenson

Every one was on tenter hooks to see how she would be greeted by the grateful Emperor.

From The Princess Virginia by Leon Guipon

At Colter Bay, in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, a luxurious campground financed by the Rockefellers has segregated areas for cabin campers, trailer campers, campers, or just plain tenters.

From Time Magazine Archive

The preachers left the field to join the tenters; and, if possible, surpassed their previous exhibitions.

From A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America by S. A. (Simon Ansley) Ferrall

No thrall's hands in the hangings were, No thrall's hands made the tenters bare.

From Poems By The Way & Love Is Enough by William Morris

But I was not at the end of my mortifications yet, neither, for now my innocent Quaker threw out an unhappy expression, which put me upon the tenters again.

From The Fortunate Mistress (Parts 1 and 2) or a History of the Life of Mademoiselle de Beleau Known by the Name of the Lady Roxana by Daniel Defoe

And pray write now, to say you do so come, for dear Mrs. Westwood else will be on the tenters of incertitude.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6 Letters 1821-1842 by Mary Lamb

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