Crossword puzzle clue "tightly tense as muscles"

Tightly tense, as muscles

Past-tense verb that is the same as its present-tense form minus the fourth and fifth letters

___ tense (verb tense for "walked" and "sang")

Person who is extremely timid or tense

Have the same tense, e.g.

Tense feeling

In a tense way

Gr. tense