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tenuous

 - 3 dictionary results

ten⋅u⋅ous

  [ten-yoo-uhs]
Use tenuous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. thin or slender in form, as a thread.
2. lacking a sound basis, as reasoning; unsubstantiated; weak: a tenuous argument.
3. thin in consistency; rare or rarefied.
4. of slight importance or significance; unsubstantial: He holds a rather tenuous position in history.
5. lacking in clarity; vague: He gave a rather tenuous account of his past life.
Origin:
1590–1600; tenu(ity) + -ous

Related forms:
ten⋅u⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
ten⋅u⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. attenuated. 4. insignificant, unimportant, trivial, trifling.

Antonyms:
1. thick. 4. important, substantial.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tenuous
ten·u·ous   (těn'yōō-əs)   
adj.  

  1. Long and thin; slender: tenuous strands.

  2. Having a thin consistency; dilute.

  3. Having little substance; flimsy: a tenuous argument.


[Latin tenuis; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
ten'u·ous·ly adv., ten'u·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

tenuous 
1597, irregularly formed from L. tenuis "thin," from PIE base *ten- "to stretch" (cf. Skt. tanuh "thin," lit. "stretched out;" see tenet) + -ous. The correct form with respect to the L. root would be tenuious. The sense of "having slight importance, not substantial" is found from c.1817.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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