Make Your Point: MORTISE & TENON

Make Your Point > Archived Issues > MORTISE & TENON

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pronounce these words:

For "mortise," say "MORE tiss." Hear it.

For "tenon," say "TEN un." Hear it.

connect these words to others:

As we explore mortise and tenon, see if you can recall a word that also derives from carpentry:

When things fit together tightly and precisely, forming a whole, as if they were created to interlock, we say that they d___t___.

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)

definitions:

We took the words "mortise" and "tenon" into English from French. Beyond that, we're not sure where "mortise" comes from, but we do know that "tenon" traces further back to the Latin tenere, "to hold, or to grasp."

(Source)

As you can see, a mortise is a hole where you stick in a tenon. And a tenon is a piece of wood or other material that pokes out, so you can stick it into the mortise. Together, the mortise and tenon form a joint.

These joints have been used since ancient times. They're strong, secure, and great for creating furniture and larger structures, like wells and ships.

They're useful in a figurative sense, too. You could say that two things are mortised together, or that one thing is mortised into another, meaning they seem to be locked in place with the solid precision of a straightforward, well-designed joint.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Nouns, the countable kind: "The stones fit into the mortises." "Don't step on a Lego; those tenons are lethal."

Also verbs, although "mortise" is much more likely to be used as a verb than "tenon:" "They mortised the corners." "This piece is mortised into the shelf."

Also adjectives: "a mortise and tenon joint."

Other forms:

Use hyphens, if you like: "It's a mortise-and-tenon joint."

how to use them:

Pick the semi-common words "mortise" and "tenon" when you want a clear, concrete kind of metaphor, one that calls to mind the tidy bits and pieces of woodworking.

You might talk literally or figuratively about things being mortised together, or one thing being mortised into another. "The support beams are mortised into the frame." "Science and skepticism are mortised together."

Or, say that one thing is the tenon that, literally or figuratively, unites two things. "Here's the tenon that'll hold these beams together." "Savvy and Scumble each focus on a different character in the Beaumont family, the tenon that holds the tales together."

examples:

"The home's wow factor is the gorgeous woodwork seen throughout its paneled rooms with artfully exposed mortise and tenon joinery."
— Andrew Ferren, New York Times, 17 June 2011

(Source)
"Large italic letters are sometimes mortised at the corners, instead of kerned, to allow the next letter to fit close."
— A. A. Stewart, Type: A Primer of Information About the Mechanical Features of Printing Types, 1918

"She slipped into his embrace as if she were mortised there."
— Rupert Hughes, What Will People Say?, 1914

has this page helped you understand "mortise" and "tenon"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about these words, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study them:

Explain the meanings of "mortise" and "tenon" without saying "slot" or "nubbin."

try them out:

Here's how we typically see Stonehenge:

(Source)

And here's what the stones look like from the top, according to Stonehenge's Twitter account:

"The protruding tenons are clearing visible and the corresponding horizontal lintel stone would have had mortise holes for them to slot into. A bit like early Lego!"

(Source)

The stones have been standing there since 2500BC. Why do you think their builders chose to use mortise and tenon joints? And do you think the comparison to Lego is a good one, or are these stones and Lego too different? Why?

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "It Sounds Wiser in Latin."

Longtime readers will recognize this game. It's back, with fresh new (okay, mostly ancient) Latin idioms!

Try matching a handful of Latin phrases to their English translations. If you need some clues, I'll provide them in the form of definitions of related English words. For example, the clue "Something anguine reminds you of a snake" could help you determine that "Latet anguis in herba" means "A snake hides in the grass."

You can see the answers by scrolling to the bottom of the issue.

Try these today:

1. Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.
2. Dulce pomum quum abest custos.
3. Et ipsa scientia potestas est.
4. Etiam sanato vulnere cicatrix manet.
5. In hoc signo spes mea.

A. And knowledge itself is power.
B. Forbidden fruit is sweetest.
C. I shall either find a way or make one.
D. In this sign is my hope.
E. Though the wound is healed, a scar remains.

To peek at the clues, follow the links:

1. Something dulcet is...
2. Something sanative is...
3. A mea culpa is literally...

review these words:

1. MORTISE and TENON aren't opposites, exactly; rather, they're counterparts, in the same way that _____ are counterparts.

A. TOOTH and NAIL.
B. MORTAR and PESTLE.
C. SPOUSE and ROOMMATE.

2. In a book about early scientific instruments, Silvio A. Bedini describes a homemade compass carved from maple and painted red, with sighting bars "_____."

A. mortised across each corner
B. mortised permanently into the frame
C. mortised meticulously around the edges

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.

I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.

From my blog:
On vocabulary...
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  Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
  How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.

From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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Make Your Point > Archived Issues > MORTISE & TENON

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