tenuto

adverb or adjective

te·​nu·​to tā-ˈnü-(ˌ)tō 

: in a manner so as to hold a tone or chord firmly to its full value

—used as a direction in music

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, from past participle of tenere "to hold," going back to Latin tenēre "to hold, possess" — more at tenant entry 1

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined above