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Webster 1913 Edition


Tenacious

Te-na′cious

,
Adj.
[L.
tenax
,
-acis
, from
tenere
to hold. See
Tenable
, and cf.
Tenace
.]
1.
Holding fast, or inclined to hold fast; inclined to retain what is in possession;
as, men
tenacious
of their just rights
.
2.
Apt to retain; retentive;
as, a
tenacious
memory
.
3.
Having parts apt to adhere to each other; cohesive; tough;
as, steel is a
tenacious
metal; tar is more
tenacious
than oil
.
Sir I. Newton.
4.
Apt to adhere to another substance; glutinous; viscous; sticking; adhesive.
“Female feet, too weak to struggle with tenacious clay.”
Cowper.
5.
Niggardly; closefisted; miserly.
Ainsworth.
6.
Holding stoutly to one’s opinion or purpose; obstinate; stubborn.
Te-na′cious-ly
,
adv.
Te-na′cious-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Tenacious

TENA'CIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. tenax, from teneo, to hold.]
1.
Holding fast, or inclined to hold fast; inclined to retain what is in possession; as men tenacious of their just rights. Men are usually tenacious of their opinions, as well as of their property.
2.
Retentive; apt to retain long what is committed to it; as a tenacious memory.
3.
Adhesive; apt to adhere to another substance; as oily, glutinous or viscous matter. Few substances are to tenacious as tar.
4.
Niggardly; close fisted.

Definition 2024


tenacious

tenacious

English

Adjective

tenacious (comparative more tenacious, superlative most tenacious)

  1. Clinging to an object or surface; adhesive.
  2. Unwilling to yield or give up; dogged.
  3. Holding together; cohesive.
  4. Having a good memory; retentive.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:obstinate

Related terms

Translations