tether

Meaning

Noun

1. A rope, cable etc. that holds something in place whilst allowing some movement.
2. A strong rope or line that connects a sailor's safety harness to the boat's jackstay.
3. The limit of one's abilities, resources etc.

Verb

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

bind to

bridle

tieback

tie down

bond

imprison

knot

🪢

lanyard

tier

band

hitch

tethering/hitching post

hawser

loop

➿

make fast

stay-chain

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”).