Main Entry:

ten·u·ous

Pronunciation:

\ˈten-yə-wəs, -yü-əs\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin tenuis thin, slight, tenuous — more at thin

Date:

1597

1: not dense : rare <a tenuous fluid>2: not thick : slender <a tenuous rope>3 a: having little substance or strength : flimsy, weak <tenuous influences> b: shaky 2a <tenuous reasons> <on grounds that were tenuous>

synonyms see thin

— ten·u·ous·ly adverb

— ten·u·ous·ness noun