Middle English Dictionary Entry
tenā̆citẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tenā̆citẹ̄ n. |
| Etymology | OF tenacité & L tenācitas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The quality of holding firmly, adhesiveness, cohesiveness; (b) obstinacy.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)87a/a : It is named Cancer for one of 2 þingez, Ouþer for his tenacite, i. holdyng [Ch.(2): towhenesse or cleuinge; L tenacitatem], wiþ þe membre as holding of þe Cancer, i. crabbe, [etc.].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)102a/a : Ȝif þu þriste doune þi fynger þerin, þou schalt make it as it were a pitte be cause of softenesse & tenacite.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)181a/b : Nerues be fourmed principallye of þe two spermes of man and of womman, þat is to seyen, of þe most liquide partie of hem to þe whiche þer is added a porcioun of erþe, to þe fortificacioun of hem and tenacite.
b
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)59.469 (v.1:p.366) : Seynt Gregory thries appierid vnto hym and .. vndirnam hym .. of his tenacitee [L (Graesse, p.199): tenacia] and streytnesse to poore men.