tenable

Where does the word "tenable" come from? It comes from Latin tenere, passing through Late Latin and French before entering English (1580s).

Tenable’s story begins in Latin: tenere meant “to hold.” The root of 'tenant', 'tenure' and 'retain'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as tenabilis. Able to be held, from tenere. From there it passed into French as tenable by 1500s. Carried into French for a position that can be defended. It reached English by 1580s as tenable. Settled as the English word for something that can be defended or maintained. Today, tenable means able to be defended or maintained against attack or objection.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tenere "to hold", the root of 'tenant', 'tenure' and 'retain'.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval tenabilis "able to be held", able to be held, from tenere.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s tenable "a position that can be defended", carried into French for a position that can be defended.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1580s tenable "able to be defended or maintained against attack or objection", settled as the English word for something that can be defended or maintained.