tenable

[ ten-uh-buhl ]
/ ˈtɛn ə bəl /

adjective

capable of being held, maintained, or defended, as against attack or dispute: a tenable theory.
capable of being occupied, possessed, held, or enjoyed, as under certain conditions: a research grant tenable for two years.

Origin of tenable

1570–80; < French: that can be held, equivalent to ten(ir) to hold (≪ Latin tenēre) + -able -able

OTHER WORDS FROM tenable

Example sentences from the Web for tenability

British Dictionary definitions for tenability

tenable
/ (ˈtɛnəbəl) /

adjective

able to be upheld, believed, maintained, or defended

Derived forms of tenable

tenability or tenableness, noun tenably, adverb

Word Origin for tenable

C16: from Old French, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre