/ten"euhn see/ , n. , pl. tenancies .
1. a holding, as of lands, by any kind of title; occupancy of land, a house, or the like, under a lease or on payment of rent; tenure.
2. the period of a tenant's occupancy.
3. occupancy or enjoyment of a position, post, situation, etc.: her tenancy as professor of history at the state university.
4. Archaic. a piece of land held by a tenant; holding.
[ 1570-80; TEN(ANT) + -ANCY; cf. ML tenantia, var. of tenentia ]