Main Entry: ¹ten·or

Pronunciation: \ˈte-nər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English tenour, from Anglo-French, from Latin tenor uninterrupted course, from tenēre to hold — more at thin

Date: 14th century

1 a : the drift of something spoken or written : purport b : an exact copy of a writing : transcript c : the concept, object, or person meant in a metaphor
2 a : the melodic line usually forming the cantus firmus in medieval music b : the voice part next to the lowest in a 4-part chorus c : the highest natural adult male singing voice; also : a person having this voice d : a member of a family of instruments having a range next lower than that of the alto
3 : a continuance in a course, movement, or activity
4 : habitual condition : character

synonyms see tendency