tenuity

noun

te·​nu·​i·​ty te-ˈnü-ə-tē How to pronounce tenuity (audio)
tə-,
-ˈnyü-
1
: lack of substance or strength
2
: lack of thickness : slenderness, thinness
the tenuity of poplarsEdith Wharton
3
: lack of density : rarefied quality or state

Examples of tenuity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s the tenuity of manhood that drives men to seek ways to prove their masculine bona fides. Parker Molloy, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tenuite "thinness," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French tenuité, borrowed from Latin tenuitāt-, tenuitās, from tenuis "thin, narrow, slight" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at thin entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenuity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tenuity

Cite this Entry

“Tenuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenuity. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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