n.
Pronunciation: ' te-n ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tenour, from Anglo-French, from Latin tenor uninterrupted course, from ten ē re 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