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Meaning of "tenterhook" in the English dictionary

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DICTIONARY
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PRONUNCIATION OF TENTERHOOK

tenterhook  [ˈtɛntəˌhʊk] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF TENTERHOOK

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Tenterhook is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES TENTERHOOK MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Tenterhook

Tenterhooks are hooks in a device called a tenter. Tenters were originally large wooden frames which were used as far back as the 14th century in the process of making woollen cloth. After a piece of cloth was woven, it still contained oil from the fleece and some dirt. A craftsperson called a fuller cleaned the woollen cloth in a fulling mill, and then had to dry it carefully or the woollen fabric would shrink. To prevent this shrinkage, the fuller would place the wet cloth on a tenter, and leave it to dry outdoors. The lengths of wet cloth were stretched on the tenter using tenterhooks all around the perimeter of the frame to which the cloth's edges were fixed, so that as it dried the cloth would retain its shape and size. In some manufacturing areas, entire tenter-fields, larger open spaces full of tenters, were once common. By the mid-18th century, the phrase "on tenterhooks" came to mean being in a state of tension, uneasiness, anxiety, or suspense, i.e. figuratively stretched like the cloth on the tenter. John Ford's 1633 play Broken Heart contains the lines: "There is no faith in woman.

Definition of tenterhook in the English dictionary

The definition of tenterhook in the dictionary is one of a series of hooks or bent nails used to hold cloth stretched on a tenter.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH TENTERHOOK


billhook
ˈbɪlˌhʊk
boathook
ˈbəʊtˌhʊk
buttonhook
ˈbʌtənˌhʊk
dough-hook
ˈdəʊˌhʊk
eyehook
ˈaɪˌhʊk
grasshook
ˈɡrɑːsˌhʊk
mudhook
ˈmʌdˌhʊk
pothook
ˈpɒtˌhʊk
reaphook
ˈriːpˌhʊk
skyhook
ˈskaɪˌhʊk
Windhoek
ˈwɪntˌhʊk

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE TENTERHOOK

tentaculoid
tentaculum
tentage
tentation
tentative
tentatively
tentativeness
tented
tented arch
tenter
tenterhooks
tentful
tenth
tenth-grader
tenthly
tentie
tentiginous
tentigo
tentless
tentlike

WORDS THAT END LIKE TENTERHOOK

butcher´s hook
cant hook
chook
crochet hook
curtain hook
fifi hook
fish hook
fish-hook
get the hook
grappling hook
meat hook
off the hook
on one´s own hook
on the hook
pruning hook
reaping hook
shook
sling one´s hook
unhook

Synonyms and antonyms of tenterhook in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «tenterhook» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF TENTERHOOK

Find out the translation of tenterhook to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of tenterhook from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «tenterhook» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

tenterhook
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

tenterhook
570 millions of speakers

English

tenterhook
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

tenterhook
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الكلابة
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

tenterhook
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

tenterhook
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

ট্যাণ্টার্হুক
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

clou à crochet
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Tenterhook
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Spannhaken
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

tenterhook
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

갈고리
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Tenterhook
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

móc của miếng bố dựng lều
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

tenterhook
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

टेंटरहूक
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

gergi kancası
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

uncino di stenditoio
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

tenterhook
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

tenterhook
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

tenterhook
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

tenterhook
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

span haak
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

tenterhook
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

tenterhook
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of tenterhook

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «TENTERHOOK»

The term «tenterhook» is used very little and occupies the 178.767 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Rarely used
16
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «tenterhook» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of tenterhook
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «tenterhook».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «TENTERHOOK» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «tenterhook» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «tenterhook» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about tenterhook

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «TENTERHOOK»

Discover the use of tenterhook in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to tenterhook and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Maids and Mistresses, Cousins and Queens : Women's Alliances ...
In particular, the passage of Mistress Tenterhook's diamonds demonstrates this exchange. In Ill.iv, Mistress Tenterhook uses the stones as security for Monopoly's release from his arrest by Sergeant Ambush, to purchase his presence for the ...
Susan Frye Associate Professor of English and Women's Studies University of Wyoming, Karen Robertson Associate Professor of English and women's Studies Vassar College, 1999
2
The Works of John Webster: With Some Account of the Author, ...
DRAMATIS. PERSONNE. Earl. Justini ano. Honeysuckle. Tenterhook. Wafer, Monopoly. Sir Gosling Glowworm. Linstock. Whirlpool. Amrush. Clutch. Scrivener. Cashier. Tailor. Boniface. Proutico. Chamberlain. Boy, Servante, Fiddlers. Mistress ...
John Webster, Alexander Dyce, 1859
3
Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England
Mistress Tenterhook tells the other wives that "the Jest shall be a stock to maintain us and our pewfellowes in laughing at christnings, cryings out, and upsittings this twelve month" (5.1.171-73). Instead of enjoying sexual pleasure with the ...
John Pitcher, 2002
4
The works of John Webster: now first collected with some ...
Mistress Honeysuckle *. Mistress Tenterhook*. Mistress Wafer *. Mistress Birdlime. Lucy. Christian. * Mistress Honeysuckle. ~\ In the old copy (which has no list of Mistress Tenterhook, /dramatis personae) the christian names Mistress Wafer.
John Webster, Alexander Dyce, 1830
5
Skull Beneath the Skin: The Achievement of John Webster
Clare Tenterhook, another pupil, stages the whole episode of Monopoly's arrest, then feigns sickness in order to avoid the sexual experience she has taken such pains to arrange. Perhaps we may discern here, as in Sir Thomas Wyatt, another  ...
Charles R. Forker, 1986
6
Material London, Ca. 1600
Even Birdlime can be included in this space when she pants in, bringing to Mistress Tenterhook the jewels she had used to ransom Monopoly from the officer who arrested him. Symbols of Tenterhook's chastity, the jewels had come into ...
Lena Cowen Orlin, 2000
7
The Missing Method: Reading Guitar Music Beyond the Open ...
The Missing Method can do just that! This method book is designed for anyone who has successfully completed any guitar method book and can read notation in open position.
Christian Triola, 2013
8
Westward Ho. Northward Ho. A Cure for a Cuckold: 3
Master Tenterhook, he hath hung long upon you: Master Tenterhook, as I am virtuous, you shall arrest him. TEN. Why, I know not when he will come to town. MIST. Tan. He '5 in town; this night he sups at the Lion in Shoreditch: good husband, ...
‎1830
9
Producing Early Modern London: City, Theater, and Space
rries if I did not heare the sicknes was in Towne very hot” (3.4.4- s on the prostitute Luce's mind when the citizen Tenterhook's small r breeds The The play shows the characters manipulating that threat rather than worrying about it. Westward ...
Kelly J. Stage, 2007
10
Famous English Renaissance Dramatists-Two-Thomas Dekker
Students' Academy. their wives. The three wives are all pursued by a set of gallants that includes Sir Gosling Glowworm, Captain Whirlpool, Masters Linstock and Monopoly. Monopoly is a special friend of Mrs. Tenterhook; when he doesn't  ...
Students' Academy

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «TENTERHOOK»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term tenterhook is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Yakub Memon case: Adjournment puts kin on tenterhooks
MUMBAI: The Supreme Court adjourned Yakub Memon's plea against his execution to Tuesday, it gave his family a breather, but also put them on tenterhooks ... «Times of India, Jul 15»
2
Bond Traders Put on Tenterhooks After Greece Given New Deadline
Bond investors who pushed up prices of Spanish and Italian securities on speculation a Greek bailout deal was in sight will have to put that optimism at bay. «Bloomberg, Jul 15»
3
Greek Australians on tenterhooks over referendum
Ruth Wynn Williams. ONE News Australia Correspondent. Greek Australians on tenterhooks over referendum. 02:04. Thousands of Greeks on this side of the ... «TVNZ, Jul 15»
4
Accused Aaron McCarey 'on tenterhooks'
The Wolves chief said: “It's been quite a tough time for Aaron over the months where they've been obviously gathering information and he's been on tenterhooks, ... «expressandstar.com, Jul 15»
5
Greece may keep Dalal Street on tenterhooks this week, volatility …
MUMBAI: Growing uncertainty over Greece's future in the Eurozone amid worries about an imminent debt default may keep investors in India on edge this week. «Economic Times, Jun 15»
6
Tenterhook at The Lexington | Live review
Tenterhook is the stage name of Archie Faulks, a singer/songwriter from London who's been writing music for four years now. For a young man of only 19, this ... «The Upcoming, Jun 15»
7
Kieran Foran leaves Manly and Parramatta on tenterhooks
Kieran Foran kept Manly and Parramatta on tenterhooks last night as a pressing personal issue took precedent over the contract wrangle that has dominated the ... «The Australian, Jun 15»
8
Deal or No Deal? Greece Remains on Tenterhooks
Significant divisions remain between Greece and its international creditors over measures Athens must implement before receiving desperately needed bailout ... «Wall Street Journal, Jun 15»
9
Spurt in fraud at ATMs keep Srikakulam police on tenterhooks
With many complaints over poor security at ATMs of various banks in Srikakulam district, many cases of cheating during the transactions reported, the Police ... «The Hindu, Jun 15»
10
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on tenterhooks
A severe storm warning left Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on tenterhooks with their French Open semi-final showdown suspended midway through the fourth ... «Sydney Morning Herald, Jun 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Tenterhook [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/tenterhook>. May 2024 ».
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