# tether

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɛðə/ · frequency rank #30,619

## Definitions
1. A rope, cable etc. that holds something in place whilst allowing some movement.
2. The limit of one's abilities, resources, patience, etc.
3. 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.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **tithe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tether-vs-tithe)
- **together** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tether-vs-together)
- **tethered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tether-vs-tethered)
- **tater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tater-vs-tether)
- **tender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tender-vs-tether)
- **temper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/temper-vs-tether)
- **teller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teller-vs-tether)
- **teaser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teaser-vs-tether)
- **tester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tester-vs-tether)
- **tenner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tenner-vs-tether)
- **teacher** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teacher-vs-tether)

## Common misspellings (8)
`tehter`, `tetehr`, `tetherr`, `tethher`, `tethre`, `tetther`, `tteher`, `ttether`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tether