tenable

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded

   Back in the 1800s, many did not consider Darwin's theory of evolution to be tenable at all.

2. 2
   adj

   Capable of being defended against assault or attack; defensible

   The island of Melos undoubtedly fell within his general conceptions of tenable empire for Athens.

3. 3
   adj

   Fit for habitation, similar, or related use.

   In February, 1679, he was admitted "a planter" of the town and a home lot was granted him "on condition that it should have a tenable house built upon it within two years.

From the French tenable, from tenir (“to hold”); compare tenible.

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