adj. 1. Capable of being maintained in argument; rationally defensible: a tenable theory. 2. Capable of being held against assault; defensible: a tenable outpost. 3. Capable of enduring or of being tolerated: a tenable situation. [French, from Old French, from tenir, to hold, from Latin tenēre; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ten′a·bili·ty, tena·ble·ness n. tena·bly adv. |
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