Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tenor
Ten′or
,Noun.
1.
A state of holding on in a continuous course; manner of continuity; constant mode; general tendency; course; career.
Along the cool sequestered vale of life
They kept the noiseless
They kept the noiseless
tenor
of their away. Gray.
2.
That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.
When it [the bond] is paid according to the
tenor
. Shakespeare
Does not the whole
tenor
of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men? Spart.
3.
Stamp; character; nature.
This success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same
tenor
. Dryden.
4.
(Law)
An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport, which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.
Bouvier.
5.
[F.
ténor
, L. tenor
, properly, a holding; – so called because the tenor was the voice which took and held the principal part, the plain song, air, or tune, to which the other voices supplied a harmony above and below: cf. It. tenore
.] (Mus.)
(a)
The higher of the two kinds of voices usually belonging to adult males; hence, the part in the harmony adapted to this voice; the second of the four parts in the scale of sounds, reckoning from the base, and originally the air, to which the other parts were auxillary.
(b)
A person who sings the tenor, or the instrument that play it.
Old Tenor
, New Tenor
, Middle Tenor
different descriptions of paper money, issued at different periods, by the American colonial governments in the last century.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tenor
TEN'OR
,Noun.
1.
Continued run or currency; whole course or strain. We understand a speaker's intention or views from the tenor of his conversation, that is, from the general course of his ideas, or general purport of his speech. Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?
2.
Stamp; character. The conversation was of the same tenor as that of the preceding day. This success would look like chance, if it were not perpetual and always of the same tenor.
3.
Sense contained; purport; substance; general course or drift; as close attention to the tenor of the discourse. Warrants are to be executed according to their form and tenor. Bid me tear the bond.
--When it is paid according to the tenor.
4.
In music, the natural pitch of a man's voice in singing; hence, the part of a tune adapted to a man's voice, the second of the four parts, reckoning from the base; and originally the air, to which the other parts were auxiliary.5.
The persons who sing the tenor, or the instrument that plays it.