Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English tena(u)nt < Anglo-French; Middle French tenant, noun use of present participle of tenir to hold ≪ Latin tenēre.See -ant
early 14c., "person who holds lands by title or by lease," from Anglo-Fr. tenaunt (late 13c.), O.Fr. tenant (12c.), noun use of prp. of tenir "to hold," from L. tenere "hold, keep" (see tenet).