Origin and history of tensome

"1 more than nine, twice five; the number which is one more than nine; a symbol representing this number;" Old English ten (Mercian), tien (West Saxon), adjective and noun, from Proto-Germanic *tehun (source also of Old Saxon tehan, Old Norse tiu, Danish ti, Old Frisian tian, Old Dutch ten, Dutch tien, Old High German zehan, German zehn, Gothic taihun "ten"), from PIE root *dekm- "ten."

The meaning "ten o'clock" is from 1712. Sometimes used to indicate "a large number." The Texan's exaggerated ten-gallon hat is from 1919. To be ten feet tall "feeling extremely successful or confident" is by 1962. The ten-foot pole that you wouldn't touch something with (1909) was earlier a 40-foot pole; the notion is of keeping one's distance, as in the advice to use, when dining with the devil, a long spoon.

Ten-four "I understand, message received," is attested in popular jargon from 1962, from citizens band and emergency dispatch radio 10-codes (which were in use in U.S. by 1950). Ten-speed, "bicycle with ten gears" is by 1977.

word-forming element used in making adjectives from nouns or adjectives (and sometimes verbs) and meaning "tending to; causing; to a considerable degree," from Old English -sum, identical with some, from PIE root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with." Cognate with Old Frisian -sum, German -sam, Old Norse -samr; also related to same.

"It usually indicates the possession of a considerable degree of the quality named: as mettlesome, full of mettle or spirit; gladsome, very glad or joyous" [Century Dictionary]. It is also, disguised, the ending in buxom. For the -some used with numbers (twosome, foursome, etc.), see -some (2).