tenace

noun

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ten·ace | \ ˈte-ˌnās

, te-ˈnās, ˈte-nəs

Definition of tenace

: a combination of two high or relatively high cards (such as ace and queen) of the same suit in one hand with one ranking two degrees below the other

History and Etymology for tenace

borrowed from Spanish tenaza "pincers, forceps, tenace in cards," in plural (with singular reference) tenazas, alteration of earlier tenaces, going back to Iberian Latin tenācēs, from nominalized plural of Latin tenāc-, tenāx "holding fast, clinging, persistent" (probably as ellipsis of forcipēs tenācēs "tight-holding pincers") — more at tenacious

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