Hypertext Webster Gateway: "tenseness"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Tense \Tense\, a. [L. tensus, p. p. of tendere to stretch. See
{Tend} to move, and cf. {Toise}.]
Stretched tightly; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as,
a tense fiber.
The temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and a
fatal paleness was upon her. --Goldsmith.
-- {Tense"ly}, adv. -- {Tense"ness}, n.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
tenseness
n 1: the physical condition of being stretched or strained; "it
places great tension on the leg muscles"; "he could feel
the tenseness of her body" [syn: {tension}, {tensity}, {tautness}]
2: a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense; "he
suffered from fatigue and emotional tension"; "stress is a
vasoconstrictor" [syn: {tension}, {stress}]
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