Etymologically
Log in

tenue

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the French word tenue

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1150 Roman de Thèbes More words from the 12th century
Ultimate origin
Latin teneō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French tenir
French tenue
From the same root
French entretenir ← tenir
French retenir ← tenir
French tenable ← tenir
French tenant ← tenir
French teneur ← tenir

Pronunciation

Forms

tenue f (plural tenues)[1]

Etymology

It is from French tenir, the feminine of its past participle tenu used as a noun.[2][3][4][5][6] The verb comes from Vulgar Latin *teniō, for teneō (“to hold”).[7]

Littré compares Old Occitan tenguda, Spanish tenuta and Italian tenuta.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1150 the Roman de Thèbes has vavaseur de grant tenue, a lord who holds a large domain in fief, hence a powerful one.[2] The GLLF gives the sense as a domain held in fief, a possession.[4]

Semantic evolution

It began as a feudal term, where tenure was the more usual word: about 1160 Benoît de Sainte-Maure uses it for a domain or possession,[2][5] and in the 13th century Beaumanoir speaks of a tenue of ten years, a holding that gives ownership.[8] Its many later senses follow the many senses of tenir.[5]

From the 15th century it meant firmness or constancy in a person, and in the 16th century continuity, now kept only in d'une tenue “without a break” (1636).[2][5] Specialised senses followed: the hold of an anchor on the sea bed (1678), a held note in music (1680), the firmness of a share price (1872) and a horse's staying power (1885).[2][5] Tenue de route, a vehicle's road-holding, appears in 1908.[2]

From the early 17th century it is the noun of tenir séance, the holding of a meeting (1623, les tenues des estats), and among Freemasons a lodge meeting (1867).[2][5] The management of a household is recorded in 1817 and tenue des livres “bookkeeping” in 1835.[2]

It also named the way one holds oneself: bearing (1580, Montaigne) and a rider's seat (before 1614).[2][5] From 1797 it is the way a soldier is dressed, with grande tenue “full dress” the same year and petite tenue in 1835,[2][5] and then dress in general, as in tenue de soirée and tenue de ville (1933).[5] Avoir de la tenue “to behave with dignity” is recorded in 1872, and the sense “correctness of style” in 1907.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 1150 – Vavaseur de grant tenue in the Roman de Thèbes.[2]
  • 1156 – The Grand Robert's date for the feudal sense “tenure”.[3]
  • c. 1160 – Benoît de Sainte-Maure uses it for a domain.[2]
  • 15th century – “Firmness, constancy” of a person.[2]
  • 1580 – Montaigne uses it for a person's bearing.[2]
  • 1623 – Les tenues des estats, of the holding of an assembly.[2]
  • 1680 – Richelet records the musical sense, a held note.[2][4]
  • 1797 – It is used for a soldier's dress, and grande tenue appears.[2]
  • 1835 – The Académie records tenue des livres.[2]
  • 1872 – The firmness of a share price.[2][5]
  • 1908 – Tenue de route in L'Auto.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The holding of a meeting or session.[9][10]
  2. The running or upkeep of a house or an establishment: la tenue d'un hôtel.[9][10] Tenue des livres: bookkeeping.[2][10]
  3. Good conduct, dignity, correct manners: avoir de la tenue.[9][5][1]
  4. The way one holds oneself; posture, bearing.[9][10][1]
  5. Dress, outfit; the clothes suited to a profession, an activity or an occasion: tenue de soirée.[10][5] En tenue: in uniform.[1]
  6. Quality, high standard of a work: un essai d'une belle tenue.[10][1]
  7. Tenue de route: a vehicle's roadholding.[9][2]
  8. (music) The holding of a note.[6][1]
  9. (stock exchange) The firmness of a share price.[6][10][1]
  10. (horse racing) A horse's stamina over a distance.[6][2]
  11. (nautical) The hold of an anchor on the sea bed.[2][8]

Usage notes

In Touraine être de la même tenue meant “to be from the same district” (1943).[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ a b c d e Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Tenue.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/tenue. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·