Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

tenable

 - 3 dictionary results

ten⋅a⋅ble

  [ten-uh-buhl]
Use tenable in a Sentence
–adjective
1. capable of being held, maintained, or defended, as against attack or dispute: a tenable theory.
2. capable of being occupied, possessed, held, or enjoyed, as under certain conditions: a research grant tenable for two years.
Origin:
1570–80; < F: that can be held, equiv. to ten(ir) to hold (≪ L tenēre) + -able -able

Related forms:
ten⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, ten⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun
ten⋅a⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. workable, viable, maintainable, warrantable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tenable
ten·a·ble   (těn'ə-bəl)   
adj.  

  1. Capable of being maintained in argument; rationally defensible: a tenable theory.

  2. Capable of being held against assault; defensible: a tenable outpost.


[French, from Old French, from tenir, to hold, from Latin tenēre; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
ten'a·bil'i·ty, ten'a·ble·ness n., ten'a·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

tenable 
1579, from M.Fr. tenable, from O.Fr. (12c.), from tenir "to hold," from L. tenere "hold, keep" (see tenet).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see tenable on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way