Tenor
/ˈtɛn.ər/noun
A high adult male singing voice or vocal range; also, the general course or meaning of something.
Did you know?In medieval music, the tenor was the voice that “held” the chant, from Latin *tenēre* meaning “to hold,” and that same root also powers words like *tenacious* and *tenant*.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
tenēre
“to hold, keep, or possess”
Medieval Latin
Latin
tenor
“a holding; the course or burden of a text or melody”
Old French
Old French
tenor
“course, purport, substance; also a musical part”
14th Century
English
tenour
“course, purport, tenor of speech or writing”
Modern English
English
tenor
“the general meaning or course of something; a high male singing voice”