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 dismissal2: grasp, hold

— ten·ur·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective

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

— te·nur·ial·ly \-ə-lē\ adverb