noun

1. general course or tendency the even tenor of my life
2. general meaning; drift; purport
3. in a metaphor, that term or concept that is described in a figurative way by the vehicle
4. Obsolete general character or nature
5. the exact wording or an exact copy of a legal document

6. 1. Etymology: ME < MFr tenour < It tenore < L tenor, a holding: the tenor voice “held” the melody (canto fermo)

      the range of a voice, often, specif., an adult male voice, between baritone and countertenor, usually from about an octave below middle C to an octave above
   2. a voice or singer with such a range
   3. an instrument with a similar range within its family, as a tenor saxophone
   4. a part for such a voice or instrument
7. in four-part harmony, the second lowest part
8. in a set of bells for ringing changes, the bell with the lowest tone

Etymology: OFr < L tenere, to hold: see tenant

adjective