Main Entry: ten·ure

Pronunciation: \ˈten-yər also -ˌyu̇r\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French teneure, tenure, from Medieval Latin tenitura, from Vulgar Latin *tenitus, past participle of Latin tenēre to hold — more at thin

Date: 15th century

1 : the act, right, manner, or term of holding something (as a landed property, a position, or an office); especially : a status granted after a trial period to a teacher that gives protection from summary dismissal
2 : grasp, hold

— ten·ur·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective

— te·nur·ial \te-ˈnyu̇r-ē-əl\ adjective

— te·nur·ial·ly \-ə-lē\ adverb