1762 R. Pulteney in (Royal Soc.) 52 353 Robust and tense fibred.
1891 R. Kipling vii. 134 The Americans, whose rasping voices..strain tense-drawn nerves to breaking-point.
1908 15 May 2/1 The haggard, tense-eyed men, the expensively attired, withered, yet beautiful women.