A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

Teflon --- 1945, proprietary name registered in U.S. by du Pont, from chemical name (poly)te(tra)fl(uoroethylene) + arbitrary ending -on; popularized as a coating of non-stick pans in 1960s; metaphoric extension, especially in reference to U.S. President Ronald Reagan, is attested from an Aug. 2, 1983, speech on the floor of Congress by Pat Schroeder.

tegument --- c.1440, from L. tegumentum "a covering, a cover," from tegere "to cover," from PIE base *(s)teg- "to cover" (see stegosaurus).

Tejano --- native or inhabitant of Texas, 1925, from Amer.Sp., formerly Texano "a Texan" (see Texas).

tektite --- small roundish glass bodies, probably of meteoric origin, 1909, from Ger. tektit (1900), from Gk. tektos "molten," from tekein "to melt."

tele- --- comb. form meaning "far, far off," from Gk. tele-, combining form of tele "far off, afar, at or to a distance," related to teleos (gen. telos) "end, goal, result, consummation, perfection," lit. "completion of a cycle," from PIE *kwel-es- (cf. Skt. caramah "the last," Bret. pell "far off," Welsh pellaf "uttermost"), from base *kwel- (see cycle).

telecast (n.) --- 1937, from tele(vision) + (broad)cast. The verb is recorded from 1940.

telecommunication --- 1932, from Fr. télécommunication (see tele- + communication).

teleconference --- 1953, from tele- + conference (see confer).

telegenic --- 1939, from television + ending from photogenic.

telegram --- telegraphic dispatch, 1852, coined by E.P. Smith of Rochester, N.Y., from tele-, as in telegraph + -gram, and introduced in the Albany "Evening Journal" of April 6, 1852. Purists pointed out that this is an erroneous formation, and the correct word would be telegrapheme (which is close to the Mod.Gk. word).

telegraph --- 1794, "semaphor apparatus" (hence the Telegraph Hill in many cities), lit. "that which writes at a distance," from Fr. télégraphe, from télé- "far" (from Gk. tele-; see tele-) + -graphe. The signaling device had been invented in France in 1791 by the brothers Chappe, who had called it tachygraphe, lit. "that which writes fast," but the better name was suggested to them by Fr. diplomat Comte André-François Miot de Mélito (1762-1841). First applied 1797 to an experimental electric telegraph (designed by Dr. Don Francisco Salva at Barcelona); the practical version was developed 1830s by Samuel Morse. The verb is attested from 1805; fig. meaning "to signal one's intentions" is first attested 1925, originally in boxing.

telekinesis --- 1890, said to have been coined by Alexander N. Aksakof (1832-1903) Imperial Councilor to the Czar, in Mod.L., lit. "motion at a distance," from tele- + Gk. kinesis "movement, motion," from PIE base *kei- "to move to and fro" (see cite). Translates Ger. Fernwirkung.

telemarketing --- 1980, from tele(phone) + marketing.

telemeter --- 1860, a rangefinder for surveying and artillery, from Fr. télémètre (1852), from télé- "far" (see tele-) + mètre "meter" (see meter (2)). Used from 1953 for a pay-as-you-watch TV system with a coin box attached to the set.

teleology --- study of final causes, 1740, from Mod.L. teleologia, coined 1728 by Ger. philosopher Baron Christian von Wolff (1679-1754) from Gk. teleos "entire, perfect, complete," prop. gen. of telos "end, goal, result;" see tele- + -logia.

telepathy --- 1882, coined (along with telæsthesia) by Eng. psychologist Frederic Myers (1843-1901), from tele- "far" (see tele-) + -pathy "feeling." Telepathic is first recorded 1884. The noun telepath is a 1907 back-formation.

telephone --- 1835, "apparatus for signaling by musical notes" (devised by Sudré in 1828), from Fr. téléphone (c.1830), from télé- "far" (see tele-) + phone "sound" (see fame). Also used of other apparatus early 19c., including "instrument similar to a foghorn for signaling from ship to ship" (1844). The electrical communication tool was first described in modern form by P.Reis (1861); developed by Bell, and so called by him from 1876. The verb is attested from 1878.

telephoto --- 1898, shortened form of telephotographic (1892), from tele- + photographic.

teleportation --- 1931, as a term in psychics and science fiction, from tele- + (trans)portation.

teleprompter --- 1951, originally a proprietary name in U.S., from tele- + prompter. The equivalent British proprietary name is Autocue.

telescope --- 1648, from It. telescopio (used by Galileo, 1611), and Mod.L. telescopium (used by Kepler, 1613), both from Gk. teleskopos "far-seeing," from tele- "far" (see tele-) + -skopos "seeing," from skopein "to watch." Said to have been coined by Prince Cesi, founder and head of the Roman Academy of the Lincei (Galileo was a member). Used in Eng. in L. form from 1619. The verb meaning "to force together one inside the other" (like the sliding tubes of some telescopes) is first recorded 1867.

Teletex --- proprietary name for a computer data-sharing network, 1978.

telethon --- prolonged TV fundraiser, 1949, from tele(vision) + (mara)thon.

teletype --- 1904, trademark for a communications system of typewriters connected electronically, short for teletypewriter (1904), a form of telegraph in which the receiver prints messages like a typewriter, from tele- + typewriter.

televangelist --- 1973, from tele(vision) + evangelist. The earliest record of the word in OED is a reference to Rex Humbard in a "New York Times" article of July 26, 1973.

televise --- 1927 back-formation from television, on model of other verbs from nouns ending in -(v)ision (e.g. revise).

television --- 1907, "the action of seeing by means of Hertzian waves or otherwise, what is existing or happening at a place concealed or distant from the observer's eyes" [OED]; in theoretical discussions about sending images by radio transmission, formed in Eng. or borrowed from Fr. télévision, from tele- + vision. Other proposals for the name of this then-hypothetical technology were telephote (1880) and televista (1904). The technology was developed in the 1920s and '30s. Nativized in Ger. as Fernsehen.

Telex --- 1932, "a communication system of teletypewriters," from tel(etype) ex(change).

tell (n.) --- mound, hill, 1864, from Arabic tall, related to Heb. tel "mount, hill, heap."

tell (v.) --- O.E. tellan "to reckon, calculate, consider, account," from P.Gmc. *taljanan "to mention in order" (cf. O.S. tellian, O.N. telja, O.Fris. tella "to count, tell," Du. tellen "to count, reckon," O.S. talon "to count, reckon," Dan. tale "to speak," O.H.G. zalon, Ger. zählen "to count, reckon"), from base *talo (see tale). Meaning "to narrate, relate" is from c.1000; that of "to make known by speech or writing, announce" is from c.1122. Sense of "to reveal or disclose" is from c.1400; that of "to act as an informer, to 'peach' " is recorded from 1901. Meaning "to order (someone to do something)" is from 1599. Original sense in teller and phrase to tell time. For sense evolution, cf. Fr. conter "to count," raconter "to recount;" It. contare, Sp. contar "to count, recount, narrate;" Ger. zählen "to count," erzählen "to recount, narrate."

teller --- bank clerk who pays or receives money, 1475, "person who keeps accounts," from tell in its secondary sense of "count, enumerate," which is the primary sense of cognate words in many Gmc. languages.

telltale --- 1548 (n.), 1594 (adj.), from tell + tale, in phrase to tell a tale "relate a false or exaggerated story" (c.1275).

tellurian --- pertaining to the earth, 1846, from L. tellus (gen. telluris) "earth," from PIE base *tel- "ground, floor" (cf. Lith. telinat "spread out, flat," Skt. talam "plain, sole of the foot," O.C.S. tilo "floor," Gk. telia "dice board," O.Ir. talam "earth," O.N. þilja "plank"). The chemical telluride is attested from 1849.

temblor --- earthquake, 1876, from Amer.Sp. temblor "earthquake," from Sp. temblor, lit. "a trembling," from temblar "to tremble," from V.L. *tremulare (see tremble).

temerity --- 1432, from M.Fr. témérité (15c.), from L. temeritatem (nom. temeritas) "blind chance, accident, rashness," from temere "by chance, blindly, casually, rashly," related to tenebrae "darkness," from PIE base *temes- "dark" (cf. Skt. tamas- "darkness," tamsrah "dark;" Avestan temah "darkness;" Lith. tamsa "darkness," tamsus "dark;" O.C.S. tima "darkness;" O.H.G. dinstar "dark;" O.Ir. temel "darkness").

temp --- 1909 (adj.), 1932 (n.), Amer.Eng., shortened form of temporary (job, employee, etc.).

temper (n.) --- 1387, "due proportion of elements or qualities," from temper (v.). The sense of "characteristic state of mind" is first recorded 1595; that of "calm state of mind" in 1603; and that of "angry state of mind" (for bad temper) in 1828. Meaning "degree of hardness and resiliency in steel" is from c.1470.

temper (v.) --- late O.E. temprian "to bring to a proper or suitable state, to modify some excessive quality, to restrain within due limits," from L. temperare "to mix correctly, moderate, regulate, blend," usually described as from tempus "time, season" (of unknown origin), with a sense of "proper time or season," but the sense history is obscure. Meaning "to make (steel) hard and elastic" is from c.1381. Sense of "to tune the pitch of a musical instrument" is recorded from c.1300.

tempera --- 1832, from It. tempera (in phrase pingere a tempera), from temperare "to mix colors, temper," from L. temperare "to mix" (see temper).

temperament --- c.1412, "proportioned mixture of elements," from L. temperamentum "proper mixture," from temperare "to mix" (see temper). In medieval theory, it meant a combination of qualities (hot, cold, moist, dry) that determined the nature of an organism; this was extended to a combination of the four humors (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) that made up a person's characteristic disposition. General sense of "habit of mind, natural disposition" is from 1821. Temperamental "of or pertaining to temperament" is from 1646; in the sense of "moody" it is recorded from 1907.

temperance --- c.1340, "self-restraint, moderation," from Anglo-Fr. temperaunce (c.1250), from L. temperantia "moderation," from temperans, prp. of temperare "to moderate" (see temper). L. temperantia was used by Cicero to translate Gk. sophrosyne "moderation." In Eng., temperance was used to render L. continentia or abstinentia, specifically in reference to drinking alcohol and eating; hence by early 1800s it came to mean "abstinence from alcoholic drink."

temperate --- c.1380, of persons, "modest, forbearing, self-restrained," from L. temperatus "restrained, regulated," from pp. of temperare "to moderate, regulate" (see temper). Applied to climates 1432; temperate zone is attested from 1551.

temperature --- 1533, "fact of being tempered," also "character or nature of a substance," from L. temperatura "a tempering, moderation," from temperatus, pp. of temperare "to moderate" (see temper). Sense of "degree of heat or cold" first recorded 1670 (Boyle), from L. temperatura, used in this sense by Galileo. Meaning "fever, high temperature" is attested from 1898.

tempest --- violent storm, c.1250, from O.Fr. tempeste (11c.), from V.L. *tempesta, from L. tempestas (gen. tempestatis) "storm, weather, season," also "commotion, disturbance," related to tempus "time, season." Sense evolution is from "period of time" to "period of weather," to "bad weather" to "storm." Words for "weather" were originally words for "time" in languages from Russia to Brittany. Fig. sense of "violent commotion" is recorded from c.1315. Tempestuous is attested from 1447.

Templar --- c.1290, from Anglo-Fr. templer, O.Fr. templier (c.1200), from M.L. templaris (1157), member of the medieval religious/military order known as Knights Templars (c.1118-1312), so called because they had headquarters in a building near Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

template --- 1677, templet "horizontal piece under a girder or beam," probably from Fr. templet "weaver's stretcher," dim. of temple, which meant the same thing, from L. templum "plank, rafter," also "building for worship" (see temple (1)). The meaning "pattern or gauge for shaping a piece of work" is first recorded 1819 in this form, earlier temple (1688); the form was altered 1844, probably influenced by plate, but the pronunciation did not begin to shift until much more recently.

temple (1) --- building for worship, O.E. tempel, from L. templum "piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, building for worship," of uncertain signification. Commonly referred either to PIE base *tem- "to cut," on notion of "place reserved or cut out," or to PIE base *temp- "to stretch," on notion of cleared space in front of an altar. Fig. sense of "any place regarded as occupied by divine presence" was in O.E. Applied to Jewish synagogues from 1598.

temple (2) --- side of the forehead, c.1310, from O.Fr. temple "side of the forehead" (11c.), from V.L. *tempula (fem. sing.), from L. tempora, pl. of tempus (gen. temporis) "side of the forehead," probably originally "the thin stretch of skin at the side of the forehead." Possibly associated with tempus span "timely space (for a mortal blow with a sword)," or from the notion of "stretched, thinnest part," which is the sense of cognate O.E. ðunwange, lit. "thin cheek."

tempo --- relative speed of a piece of music, 1724, from It. tempo, lit. "time" (pl. tempi), from L. tempus (gen. temporis) "time." Extended to non-musical senses 1898.

temporal --- c.1340, "worldly, secular," later "of time, terrestrial, earthly" (c.1375), "temporary, lasting only for a time" (1382), from O.Fr. temporal, from L. temporalis "of time, temporary," from tempus (gen. temporis) "time, season, proper time or season."

temporary (adj.) --- 1547, from L. temporarius "of seasonal character, lasting a short time," from tempus (gen. temporis) "time, season." The noun meaning "person employed only for a time" is recorded from 1848.

temporize --- 1555 (implied in temporizer), from M.Fr. temporiser "to pass one's time, wait one's time" (14c.), from M.L. temporizare "pass time," perhaps via V.L. *temporare "to delay," from L. tempus (gen. temporis) "time."

tempt --- c.1225, from O.Fr. tempter (12c.), from L. temptare "to feel, try out, attempt to influence, test." Tempting in the sense of "inviting" is from 1596; temptress is from 1594.

temptation --- c.1225, from O.Fr. temptation (12c., Fr. tentation), from L. temptationem (nom. temptatio), from temptatus, pp. of temptare (see tempt).

tempura --- 1920, from Japanese, probably from Port. tempero "seasoning."

ten --- O.E. ten (Mercian), tien (W.Saxon), from P.Gmc. *tekhan (cf. O.S. tehan, O.N. tiu, Dan. ti, O.Fris. tian, O.Du. ten, Du. tien, O.H.G. zehan, Ger. zehn, Goth. taihun "ten"), from PIE *dekm (cf. Skt. dasa, Avestan dasa, Armenian tasn, Gk. deka, L. decem, O.C.S. deseti, Lith. desimt, O.Ir. deich, Bret. dek, Welsh deg, Alb. djetu "ten"). Tenth is O.E. teoða, teogoða. Tenner "ten-pound note" is slang first recorded 1861; as "ten-dollar bill," 1887 (ten-spot in this sense dates from 1848). The ten-foot pole that you wouldn't touch something with (1909) was originally a 40-foot pole; the idea is the same as the advice to use a long spoon when you dine with the devil. Ten-four "I understand, message received," is attested in popular jargon from 1962, from use in CB and police radio 10-code (in use in U.S. by 1950).

tenable --- 1579, from M.Fr. tenable, from O.Fr. (12c.), from tenir "to hold," from L. tenere "hold, keep" (see tenet).

tenacity --- 1526, from M.Fr. ténacité (14c.), from L. tenacitas "the act of holding fast," from tenax (gen. tenacis) "tough, holding fast," from tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Tenacious first attested 1607.

tenant --- 1325, "person who holds lands by title or by lease," from Anglo-Fr. tenaunt (1292), O.Fr. tenant (12c.), noun use of prp. of tenir "to hold," from L. tenere "hold, keep" (see tenet).

tend (1) --- to incline, to move in a certain direction, c.1350, from O.Fr. tendre "stretch, hold forth, offer" (11c.), from L. tendere "to aim, stretch, extend" (see tenet).

tend (2) --- attend to, c.1330, aphetic of M.E. atenden (see attend).

tendency --- 1628, from M.L. tendentia "inclination, leaning," from L. tendens, prp. of tendere "to stretch, aim" (see tenet). Tendentious is recorded from 1900, after Ger. tendenziös.

tender (adj.) --- soft, easily injured, c.1225, from O.Fr. tendre "soft, delicate, tender" (11c.), from L. tenerem (nom. tener) "soft, delicate, of tender age," from PIE *ten- "stretch" (see tenet). Meaning "kind, affectionate, loving" first recorded c.1300. Meaning "having the delicacy of youth, immature" is attested from c.1330. Tender-hearted first recorded 1539. The verb tenderize is attested from 1733; specifically of food, recorded by 1935, originally Amer.Eng.; tenderizer is recorded from 1958.

tender (n.) --- person who tends another, c.1470, probably an agent noun formed from M.E. tenden "attend to" (see tend (2)); later extended to locomotive engineers (1825) and barmen (1883). The meaning "small boat used to attend larger ones" first recorded 1675.

tender (v.) --- to offer formally, 1542, from M.Fr. tendre "to offer, hold forth" (11c.), from L. tendere "to stretch, extend" (see tenet). The retention of the ending of the M.Fr. infinitive is unusual. The noun meaning "formal offer" is from 1542; specific sense of "money that may be legally offered as payment" is from 1740.

tenderfoot --- 1881, Amer.Eng., originally of newcomers to ranching or mining districts, from tender (adj.) + foot. The U.S. equivalent of what in Great Britain was generally called a greenhand. As a level in Boy Scouting, it is recorded from 1908.

tenderloin --- 1828, "tender part of a loin of pork or beef," from tender + loin. The slang meaning "police district noted for vice" appeared first 1887 in New York, on the notion of the neighborhood of the chief theaters, restaurants, etc., being the "juciest cut" for graft and blackmail.

tendon --- 1543, from M.L. tendonem (nom. tendo), altered (by influence of L. tendere "to stretch") of L.L. tenon, from Gk. tenon (gen. tenontos) "tendon, sinew," from teinein "to stretch" (see tenet). Tendinitis is attested from 1900.

tendril --- 1538, from M.Fr. tendrillon "bud, shoot, cartilage," perhaps a dim. of tendron "cartilage," from O.Fr. tendre "soft" (see tender (adj.)), or else from L. tendere "to stretch, extend" (see tender (v.)).

tenebrous --- full of darkness, c.1420, from O.Fr. tenebreus (11c.), from L. tenebrosus, from tenebræ "darkness" (see temerity).

tenement --- c.1303, "holding of immovable property" (such as land or buildings,) from Anglo-Fr. (1292) and O.Fr. tenement (12c.), from M.L. tenementum "a holding, fief" (1081), from L. tenere "to hold" (see tenet). The meaning "dwelling place, residence" is attested from c.1425; tenement house "house broken up into apartments, usually in a poor section of a city" is first recorded 1858, Amer.Eng., from tenament in an earlier sense (esp. in Scotland) "large house constructed to be let to a number of tenants" (1693).

tenet --- principle, properly "a thing held (to be true)," 1413, from L. tenet "he holds," third person singular present indicative of tenere "to hold, to keep, to maintain" from PIE base *ten- "to stretch" (cf. Skt. tantram "loom," tanoti "stretches, lasts;" Pers. tar "string;" Lith. tankus "compact," i.e. "tightened;" Gk. teinein "to stretch," tasis "a stretching, tension," tenos "sinew," tetanos "stiff, rigid," tonos "string," hence "sound, pitch;" L. tendere "to stretch," tenuis "thin, rare, fine;" O.C.S. tento "cord;" O.E. thynne "thin"). Connection notion between "stretch" and "hold" is "to cause to maintain." The modern sense is probably because tenet was used in M.L. to introduce a statement of doctrine.

Tennessee --- state and river, from Cherokee (Iroquoian) village name ta'nasi', of unknown origin.

tennis --- 1345, most likely from Anglo-Fr. tenetz "hold! receive! take!," from O.Fr. tenez, imperative of tenir "to hold, receive, take," which was used as a call from the server to his opponent. The original version of the game (a favorite sport of medieval Fr. knights) was played by striking the ball with the palm of the hand, and in O.Fr. was called la paulme, lit. "the palm," but to an onlooker the service cry would naturally seem to identify the game. The use of the word for the modern game is from 1874, short for lawn tennis, which originally was called sphairistike (1873), from Gk. sphairistike (tekhne) "(skill) in playing at ball," from the root of sphere. It was invented, and named, by Maj. Walter C. Wingfield and first played at a garden party in Wales, inspired by the popularity of badminton.

tenon --- projection inserted to make a joint, c.1400, from M.Fr. tenon "a tenon," from O.Fr. tenir "to hold."

tenor --- c.1300, "general meaning, purpose, drift," from O.Fr. tenour "substance, sense" (13c.), from L. tenorem (nom. tenor) "contents, course," originally "a holding on," from tenere "to hold" (see tenet). The musical sense of "high male voice" is attested from c.1388, because the sustained melody (canto fermo) was carried by the tenor's part.

tense (adj.) --- stretched tight, 1670, from L. tensus, pp. of tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Sense of "in a state of nervous tension" is first recorded 1821. The verb meaning "to make tense" is from 1676; intrans. sense of "to become tense" (often tense up) is recorded from 1946.

tense (n.) --- form of a verb showing time of an action or state, c.1315, tens "time," also "tense of a verb" (1388), from O.Fr. tens "time" (11c.), from L. tempus (see temporal).

tensile --- 1626, from Mod.L. tensilis "capable of being stretched," from L. tensus, pp. of tendere "to stretch" (see tenet).

tension --- 1533, "a stretched condition," from M.Fr. tension, from L. tensionem (nom. tensio) "a stretching" (in M.L. "a struggle, contest"), from tensus, pp. of tendere "to stretch," from PIE base *ten- "stretch" (see tenet). The sense of "nervous strain" is first recorded 1763. The meaning "electromotive force" (in high-tension wires) is recorded from 1802.

tensor --- muscle that stretches a part, 1704, Mod.L., agent noun of L. tendere "to stretch" (see tenet).

tent --- 1297, "portable shelter of skins or cloths stretched over poles," from O.Fr. tente (12c.), from M.L. tenta "a tent," noun use of fem. sing. of L. tentus "stretched," variant pp. of tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). The notion is of "stretching" hides over a framework. The verb meaning "to camp in a tent" is recorded from 1856. Tent caterpillar first recorded 1854.

tentacle --- 1762, from Mod.L. tentaculum "feeler," from L. tentare "to feel, try" (variant of temptare "to feel, try, test") + -culum, diminutive suffix.

tentative --- 1588, from M.L. tentativus "trying, testing," from L. tentatus, pp. of tentare "to feel, try," (variant of temptare "to feel, try, test").

tenter --- c.1300, "wooden framework for stretching cloth," via O.Fr. (the evolution of the ending is obscure), probably ult. from L. tentorium "tent made of stretched skins," from tentus "stretched," variant pp. of tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). The compound tenterhook (1480) is "one of the hooks that holds cloth on a tenter." The figurative phrase on tenterhooks "in painful suspense" is from 1748; earlier to be on tenters (1533).

tenuous --- 1597, irregularly formed from L. tenuis "thin," from PIE base *ten- "to stretch" (cf. Skt. tanuh "thin," lit. "stretched out;" see tenet) + -ous. The correct form with respect to the L. root would be tenuious. The sense of "having slight importance, not substantial" is found from c.1817.

tenure --- 1414, "holding of a tenement," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. tenure "a tenure, estate in land" (13c.), from O.Fr. tenir "to hold," from V.L. *tenire, from L. tenere "to hold" (see tenet). The sense of "condition or fact of holding a status, position, or occupation" is first attested 1599. Meaning "guaranteed tenure of office" (usually at a university or school) is recorded from 1957.