tenable

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: ten=a=ble

CIDE DICTIONARY

tenable, a. [F. tenable, fr. tenir to hold, L. tenere. See Thin, and cf. Continue, Continent, Entertain, Maintain, Tenant, Tent.].

 Capable of being held, maintained, or defended, as against an assailant or objector, or against attempts to take or process; as, a tenable fortress, a tenable argument.  [1913 Webster]
"If you have hitherto concealed his sight,
Let it be tenable in your silence still."  [1913 Webster]
"I would be the last man in the world to give up his cause when it was tenable."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tenable, adj.
1 that can be maintained or defended against attack or objection (a tenable position; a tenable theory).
2 (foll. by for, by) (of an office etc.) that can be held for (a specified period) or by (a specified class of person).

Derivative

tenability n. tenableness n.

Etymology

F f. tenir hold f. L tenere

THESAURUS

tenable

OK, acceptable, admissible, agreeable, all right, alright, arguable, believable, colorable, conceivable, condonable, credible, creditable, defendable, defensible, excusable, fiduciary, good enough, imaginable, impregnable, justifiable, maintainable, okay, passable, plausible, possible, rational, reasonable, reliable, secure, supportable, trustworthy, trusty, unexceptionable, unimpeachable, unobjectionable, unquestionable, viable, vindicable, warrantable, workable, worthy of faith

ROGET THESAURUS

tenable

Safety

N safety, security, surety, impregnability, invulnerability, invulnerableness, danger past, danger over, storm blown over, coast clear, escape, means of escape, blow valve, safety valve, release valve, sniffing valve, safeguard, palladium, guardianship, wardship, wardenship, tutelage, custody, safekeeping, preservation, protection, auspices, safe-conduct, escort, convoy, guard, shield, guardian angel, tutelary god, tutelary deity, tutelary saint, genius loci, protector, guardian, warden, warder, preserver, custodian, duenna, chaperon, third person, watchdog, bandog, Cerberus, watchman, patrolman, policeman, cop, dick, fuzz, smokey, peeler, zarp, sentinel, sentry, scout, garrison, guardship, refuge &c, anchor, precaution, quarantine, cordon sanitaire, confidence, protect, take care of, preserve, cover, screen, shelter, shroud, flank, ward, guard, secure, entrench, intrench, fence round, house, nestle, ensconce, take charge of, escort, convoy, garrison, watch, mount guard, patrol, make assurance doubly sure, take up a loose thread, take precautions, double reef topsails, seek safety, take shelter, find shelter, Adj, safe, secure, sure, in safety, in security, on the safe side, under the shield of, under the shade of, under the wing of, under the shadow of one's wing, under cover, under lock and key, out of danger, out of the woods, out of the meshes, out of harm's way, unharmed, unscathed, on sure ground, at anchor, high and dry, above water, unthreatened, unmolested, protected, cavendo tutus, panoplied, snug, seaworthy, weatherproof, waterproof, fireproof, defensible, tenable, proof against, invulnerable, unassailable, unattackable, impenetrable, impregnable, imperdible, inexpugnable, Achillean, safe and sound, scathless, unhazarded, not dangerous, unthreatening, harmless, friendly (cooperative), protecting, protective, guardian, tutelary, preservative, trustworthy, ex abundanti cautela, with impunity, all's well, salva res est, suave mari magno, a couvert, e terra alterius spectare laborem, Dieu vous garde.