The Clue
English 101 subject (5 letter answer)
The Answer
TENSE
Tags
Notes
The answer TENSE is seen frequently, appearing about once every 80 puzzles.
Related Clues
Anxious
On edge
Jittery
Jumpy
Past, for one
Rigid
Strained
Taut
Uptight
Ex-lax?
High-strung
Highly charged
Itchy, in a way
Keyed up
In need of a rubdown
Needing kneading?
Past or present
Perfect, e.g.
Pluperfect, e.g.
Present, e.g.
Stiffen, with "up"
Up-tight
Worked up
Wound up
Needing a massage, say
Not at all relaxed
Noun concerning verbs
Past, present or future
Tied up in knots
Time indicator, of sorts
It may be present
Like a Hitchcock audience, typically
Definition
TENSE as a noun:
1. a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
TENSE as a verb:
1. (strain, tense) = become stretched or tense or taught; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
2. increase the tension on; "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"
3. (tense, tense up) = become tense, nervous, or uneasy; "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"
4. (tense, strain, tense up) = cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
TENSE as an adjective:
1. in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
2. pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
3. taut or rigid; stretched tight; "tense piano strings"