tent

tent · noun, verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromtentus
2. Vulgar Latin · derived from*tenta“tent”
3. Old French · derived fromtente
4. Middle English · inherited fromtente
5. English todaytent

From Middle English tente, borrowed from Old French tente, from Vulgar Latin *tenta (“tent”), from the feminine of Latin tentus, ptp. of tendere (“to stretch, extend”), or contracted from *tendita as an alternate past participle. Displaced native Middle English tild, tilt (“tent, tilt”), from Old English teld (“tent”). Compare Spanish tienda (“store, shop; tent”).

tent · verb, noun²

1. Latin · derived fromattenta
2. Old French · derived fromatente“attention, intention”
3. Middle English · inherited fromtent“attention”
4. English todaytent

From Middle English tent (“attention”), aphetic variation of attent (“attention”), from Old French atente (“attention, intention”), from Latin attenta, feminine of attentus, past participle of attendere (“to attend”). Compare tend, from an aphetic variation of attend

tent · noun, verb³

1. Latin · derived fromtentāre“to probe, test”
2. Middle French · derived fromtente
3. Middle English · inherited fromtente“a probe”
4. English todaytent

From Middle English tente (“a probe”), from Middle French tente, deverbal of tenter, from Latin tentāre (“to probe, test”), alteration of temptāre (“to test, probe, tempt”).

tent · noun⁴

1. Latin · derived fromtīnctus
2. Spanish · borrowed fromtinto“deep-colored”
3. English todaytent

From Spanish tinto (“deep-colored”), from Latin tīnctus, past participle of tingo (“to dye”). More at tinge. Doublet of tint and tinto. Compare claret (“French red wine”), also from color.

Words from the same roots