[ten.or] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L tenor uninterrupted course, fr. tenere to hold--more at thin] (14c) 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 usu. 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 syn see tendency
[2]tenor adj (1522): relating to or having the range or part of a tenor