ETYM Latin tensus, p. p. of tendere to stretch. Related to Tend to move, and cf. Toise.
1. Taut or rigid; stretched tight.
2. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension.
3. (Phonetics) Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat').

ETYM Old Fren. tens, properly, time, French temps time, tense. Related to Temporal of time, and cf. Thing.
A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time.
In grammar, the form a verb takes to indicate action in the present, past, or future (“i work; I worked; I will work”).

1. To become tense or tenser; SYN. tense up.
2. To increase the tension on
3. To make tense; SYN. strain, tense up.