Ten`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being tenable;
tenableness.
Ten"a*ble (?), a. [F. tenable, fr. tenir to hold, L. tenere. See Thin,
and cf. Continue, Continent, Entertain, Maintain, Tenant, Tent.]
Capable of being held, naintained, or defended, as against an assailant
or objector, or againts attempts to take or process; as, a tenable
fortress, a tenable argument.
If you have hitherto concealed his sight, Let it be tenable in your
silence still.
Shak.
I would be the last man in the world to give up his cause when it was
tenable.
Sir W. Scott.
Ten`a*ble*ness, n. Same as Tenability.
Ten"ace (?), n. [F. tenace tenacious, demeurer tenace to hold the best
and third best cards and take both tricks, and adversary having to
lead. See Tenacious.] (Whist) The holding by the fourth hand of the
best and third best cards of a suit led; also, sometimes, the
combination of best with third best card of a suit in any hand.
Te*na"cious (?), a. [L. tenax, - acis, from tenere to hold. See
Tenable, and cf. Tenace.] 1. Holding fast, or inclined to hold fast;
inclined to retain what is in possession; as, men tenacious of their
just rights.