teth·er

[teth-er]
noun
1.
a rope, chain, or the like, by which an animal is fastened to a fixed object so as to limit its range of movement.
2.
the utmost length to which one can go in action; the utmost extent or limit of ability or resources.
verb (used with object)
3.
to fasten or confine with or as if with a tether.
4.
at the end of one's tether, at the end of one's resources, patience, or strength.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English (noun); compare Old Norse tjōthr, Dutch tuier

un·teth·ered, adjective
un·teth·er·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To tethering
Collins
World English Dictionary
tether (ˈtɛðə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a restricting rope, chain, etc, by which an animal is tied to a particular spot
2.  the range of one's endurance, etc
3.  at the end of one's tether distressed or exasperated to the limit of one's endurance
 
vb
4.  (tr) to tie or limit with or as if with a tether
 
[C14: from Old Norse tjothr; related to Middle Dutch tūder tether, Old High German zeotar pole of a wagon]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Tethering is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

tether
late 14c., "rope for fastening an animal," probably from O.N. tjoðr "tether," from P.Gmc. *teudran (cf. Dan. tøir, Swed. tjuder, O.Fris. tiader, M.Du. tuder, Du. tuier "line, rope," O.H.G. zeotar "pole of a cart"), from PIE base *deu- "to fasten" + instrumentive suffix *-tro-. Figurative sense
of "measure of one's limitations" is attested from 1570s. The verb is first recorded late 15c., from the noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Tethering inflationary expectations is vital under this regime, which is why central-bank credibility now matters so much.
Tethering shall not include using a leash to walk a dog.
Agriculture is inherently unnatural, tethering the land to a single purpose, but some forms are more unnatural than others.
One answer may be to get another smartphone, from a carrier who doesn't cripple tethering.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT