tether

Meaning

Noun

1. A rope, cable etc. that holds something in place whilst allowing some movement.
2. (figuratively) The limit of one's abilities, resources, patience, etc.
3. (figuratively) An attachment to a place, time, entity or person.
4. A strong rope or line that connects a sailor's safety harness to the boat's jackstay.

Verb

1. (transitive) To restrict with, or as if with, a tether.
2. (transitive) To connect to something else.
3. (Internet, transitive) To connect to something else.

Num

Alternative form of tethera.

Synonyms

tie

bind

rope

🪢

fasten

secure

attach

leash

tie up

moor

shackle

cord

fetter

link

🔗

join

chain

tie on

affix

appoint

associate

bind up

confine

connect

determine

fix

halter

handcuff

lash

lead

line

manacle

picket

restrain

set

stick

string

🪢

trammel

twine

gyve

painter

🧑‍🎨

vine

plight

wrap

gird

enchain

tie to

cable

stake

laniard

stick to the pan

strand

Translations

attacher

anbinden

vastbinden

guinzaglio

lier

🔗

longe

binden

Haltegurt

Leine

traba

σχοινί

attache

Schnur

anschließen

binden

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɛðə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: tether

Inherited from Old English: *tēoder

In summary

From Middle English tether, teder, from Old English *tēoder and/or Old Norse tjóðr ( > Danish tøjr, Swedish tjuder); both from Proto-Germanic *teudrą (“rope; cord; shaft”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *dewtro-, from Proto-Indo-European *dew- (“to tie”), or from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to pull”). Cognate with North German Tüder (“tether for binding the cattle”), Swedish tjuder (“tether for binding cattle”).