Main Entry:

¹ten·ant

Pronunciation:

\ˈte-nənt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from present participle of tenir to hold

Date:

14th century

1 a: one who holds or possesses real estate or sometimes personal property (as a security) by any kind of right b: one who has the occupation or temporary possession of lands or tenements of another ; specifically : one who rents or leases (as a house) from a landlord2: occupant, dweller

— ten·ant·less \-ləs\ adjective