tenor

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ten⋅or

[ten-er]

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–noun

1.	the course of thought or meaning that runs through something written or spoken; purport; drift.

2.	continuous course, progress, or movement.

3.	Rhetoric. the subject of a metaphor, as “she” in “She is a rose.” Compare vehicle (def. 8).

Music.

a.	the adult male voice intermediate between the bass and the alto or countertenor.

b.	a part sung by or written for such a voice, esp. the next to the lowest part in four-part harmony.

c.	a singer with such a voice.

d.	an instrument corresponding in compass to this voice, esp. the viola.

e.	the lowest-toned bell of a peal.

5.	quality, character, or condition.

–adjective

6.	Music. of, pertaining to, or having the compass of a tenor.

Origin:
1250–1300; < ML, L: course, continuity, tone, equiv. to ten(ēre) to hold + -or -or ¹ ; r. ME ten(o)ur < AF < L, as above

Related forms:

ten⋅or⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. sense, import, content, substance, gist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ten·or (těn'ər)

A continuous, unwavering course. See Synonyms at tendency.
The word, phrase, or subject with which the vehicle of a metaphor is identified, as life in "Life's but a walking shadow" (Shakespeare).
1. The course of thought or argument running through something written or spoken.
2. General sense; purport.
3. The exact meaning or actual wording of a document as distinct from its effect.
4. An exact copy of a document.
5. The highest natural adult male voice.
6. One who sings this part.
7. An instrument that sounds within this range.
8. Abbr. T A vocal or instrumental part written within this range.
Law
1. The exact meaning or actual wording of a document as distinct from its effect.
2. An exact copy of a document.
3. The highest natural adult male voice.
4. One who sings this part.
5. An instrument that sounds within this range.
6. Abbr. T A vocal or instrumental part written within this range.
Music
1. The highest natural adult male voice.
2. One who sings this part.
3. An instrument that sounds within this range.
4. Abbr. T A vocal or instrumental part written within this range.

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin, uninterrupted course, from tenēre, to hold, continue; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

Cultural Dictionary

tenor

The highest range of the male singing voice. (Compare baritone and bass.)

Word Origin & History

tenor

c.1300, "general meaning, purpose, drift," from O.Fr. tenour "substance, sense" (13c.), from L. tenorem (nom. tenor) "contents, course," originally "a holding on," from tenere "to hold" (see tenet). The musical sense of "high male voice" is attested from c.1388, because the sustained melody (canto fermo) was carried by the tenor's part.

Financial Dictionary

Tenor

The term or life of a contract.

Investopedia Commentary

This is similar to maturity.