tether

[ 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)

1. to fasten or confine with or as if with a tether.
2. Digital Technology. to use (an electronic device, usually a smartphone or tablet) to enable a wireless internet connection on another nearby device, often a laptop:

   There's no Wi-Fi, so I'll have to tether my phone to my laptop.

verb (used without object)

1. Digital Technology. to use an electronic device to enable a wireless internet connection on another device.

tether

/ ˈtɛðə /

noun

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
   at the end of one's tether distressed or exasperated to the limit of one's endurance

verb

1. tr to tie or limit with or as if with a tether

Other Words From

• un·teth·er·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tether¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun); compare Old Norse tjōthr, Dutch tuier

Word History and Origins

Origin of tether¹

C14: from Old Norse tjothr; related to Middle Dutch tūder tether, Old High German zeotar pole of a wagon

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at the end of one's tether, at the end of one's resources, patience, or strength.

More idioms and phrases containing tether

see end of one's rope (tether) .

Example Sentences

Later in those same exercises, the grenade, still unexploded in this exercise, flies back for a landing, and the Marine catches it by a tether.

From Popular-Science

There’s a loose overlay of drivers doing crimes — and breaking up crimes — but they attempt to maintain a vague tether to reality.

From Vox

Without it, the franchise loses some crucial tether to reality.

From Vox

For kids unable to see friends, options such as messaging apps and video games gave them an essential tether to their old lives.

From Washington Post

So I suspect that Xi Jinping will try to maintain a tether on any North Korea initiative so that we don’t drift too far away.

From Time

We would lack a human face as our symbol; we would exist in the ether of ideas with no concrete stake in the ground to tether us.

From The Daily Beast

In this conversation, Rick realizes that to survive, he must tether himself to the present—to these people.

From The Daily Beast

Power for the sensors flows up the tether and data flows down.

From The Daily Beast

Even the always-energetic Atti looked like he was at the end of his tether.

From The Daily Beast

Jane was constantly at the end of her emotional tether, which manifested brilliantly on stage.

From The Daily Beast

It indicated that things were going very badly indeed; that Laura was at the end of her tether.

From Project Gutenberg

And I have to stand by and see you at the end of your tether, hurt and frightened, and to know that I can do nothing for you.

From Project Gutenberg

The arrow-swift horses of a Persian trader slept in one stall; a tall dromedary shook his tether in another.

From Project Gutenberg

And when your really scientific ragger sinks to this, he is nearing the end of his tether.

From Project Gutenberg

Pursuing such an inquiry with regard to Frederick Chopin, we find ourselves, however, soon at the end of our tether.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bind
• moor
• restrain
• shackle