/ ˈtenə(r); NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a man's singing voice with a range just below the lowest woman's voice; a man with a tenor voice
—compare alto , baritone , bass
2.
[ sing. ] a musical part written for a tenor voice
3.
[ sing. ] the ~ of sth ( formal ) the general character or meaning of sth :
I was encouraged by the general tenor of his remarks.
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] ( of a musical instrument ) with a range of notes similar to that of a tenor voice :
a tenor saxophone
—compare alto , soprano , bass
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WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 2 and adjective late Middle English : via Old French from medieval Latin , based on tenere to hold; so named because the tenor part was allotted (and therefore “held”) the melody.
noun sense 3 Middle English : from Old French tenour , from Latin tenor course, substance, import of a law, from tenere to hold.