tenax Latin · revision 31747

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ten-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈtɛ.naːks]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈtɛː.naks]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tenāx''' (genitive tenācis, comparative tenācior); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|teneō|-āx|t1=to hold]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The verb [[m|la|teneō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*tenēō]] and [[ine-pro|*tn̥-éh₁-|t=to hold]], a stative of the root [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|तनोति|tr=tanóti|t=stretches]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) whose ''Captivi'' has “is his father close-fisted? — very close-fisted indeed”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things it means holding fast or clinging, as Varro's sticky birdlime, Virgil's tight bonds and grasping tongs, and of the body retentive.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of persons it is close-fisted or stingy, and with a genitive keeping a tight hold of something; it is also used of what makes one stay, as Propertius' lotus and Circe's herbs.^(OLD 2012) With a genitive it means holding fast to a principle, as Virgil's Rumour, “as clinging to the false and wicked as to the truth”, and of people and conduct steadfast and persistent, or obstinate.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “firm, steadfast, holding fast”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a stingy father.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of sticky birdlime.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of tight bonds and of Rumour.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1600 – Its stem gives English [[m|en|tenacious]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Holding fast, clinging, [[m|en|tenacious]]; retentive.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|close-fisted|alt=Close-fisted]], [[m|en|stingy]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Holding someone back, restraining.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Holding fast to (with genitive); [[m|en|steadfast]], persistent; obstinate.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tenācia]]

+ * [[tenācitās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[teneo|alt=teneō]]

+ * [[en|tenacious]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}