tenable C2+ Topic:Register & Style US /ˈten.ə.bəl/ UK /ˈtɛn.ə.bəl/ See IPA manual Freq #88814 Meanings 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 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 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. Thesaurus ↔ Opposites intenableuntenable Word family Forms tenability Etymology From the French tenable, from tenir (“to hold”); compare tenible. Topics Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # tenable **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈten.ə.bəl/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈtɛn.ə.bəl/ **Frequency rank:** 88814 ## Meanings 1. capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded 2. Capable of being defended against assault or attack; defensible 3. Fit for habitation, similar, or related use. ## Examples - Back in the 1800s, many did not consider Darwin's theory of evolution to be tenable at all. - The island of Melos undoubtedly fell within his general conceptions of tenable empire for Athens. - 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. ## Antonyms - intenable - untenable ## Etymology From the French tenable, from tenir (“to hold”); compare tenible. ## Topics - Register & Style markdown