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Where does the word "tenant" come from? It comes from Latin tenere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "tenant" come from? It comes from Latin tenere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Tenant’s story begins in Latin: tenere meant “to hold.” The root of 'tenable', 'tenure' and 'retain'. It reached English by 1300s as tenant. Settled as the English word for one who holds property by paying rent. Today, tenant means a person who occupies land or property by paying rent to a landlord.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tenere "to hold", the root of 'tenable', 'tenure' and 'retain'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s tenant "a person who occupies property by paying rent", settled as the English word for one who holds property by paying rent.