Word of the Day

: January 10, 2024

tenet

noun TEN-ut

What It Means

A tenet is a principle, belief, or doctrine that is held to be true by members of an organization, movement, or profession.

// On her first day at the fashion institute, Marta learned the basic tenets of the fashion industry.

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tenet in Context

"Other tenets of sound communication hold: for example, the use of active listening skills to identify the person's underlying needs and drivers of their behavior; and responding respectfully, to demonstrate understanding and acknowledge the impact of what happened and their feelings about it." — Steven P. Dinkin, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2023

Did You Know?

Tenet holds a centuries-long tenure in the English language, but its hometown is Latin. In that language, tenet is a form of the verb tenēre ("to hold") and means "s/he holds." Tenet was borrowed into English around 1600, probably because of use of the word in Latin writings to introduce text giving a principle or doctrine held by a person or group, such as a particular church or sect. The word’s English use today seems clearly linked: "a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true, and especially one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession." Note that the similar-sounding word tenant is also from tenēre; it arrived in the 1300s and typically refers today to someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc., from a landlord. (Be careful not to use tenant where you want tenet.) Tenure is a tenēre descendant too.