[teth.er] n [ME tethir, prob. of Scand origin; akin to ON tjothr tether; akin to OHG zeotar pole of a wagon] (14c) 1: something (as a rope or chain) by which an animal is fastened so that it can range only within a set radius
2: the limit of one's strength or resources "at the end of my ~"
[2]tether vt teth.ered ; teth.er.ing (15c): to fasten or restrain by or as if by a tether