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