Te*na"cious (?), a. [L. tenax, -
acis, from tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf.
Tenace.] 1. Holding fast, or inclined to hold
fast; inclined to retain what is in possession; as, men tenacious of
their just rights.
2. Apt to retain; retentive; as, a tenacious
memory.
3. Having parts apt to adhere to each other;
cohesive; tough; as, steel is a tenacious metal; tar is more
tenacious than oil. Sir I. Newton.
4. Apt to adhere to another substance; glutinous;
viscous; sticking; adhesive. "Female feet, too weak to struggle with
tenacious clay." Cowper.
5. Niggardly; closefisted; miserly.
Ainsworth.
6. Holding stoutly to one's opinion or purpose;
obstinate; stubborn.
-- Te*na"cious*ly, adv. --
Te*na"cious*ness, n.
Te*na"cious (?), a. [L. tenax, -
acis, from tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf.
Tenace.] 1. Holding fast, or inclined to hold
fast; inclined to retain what is in possession; as, men tenacious of
their just rights.
2. Apt to retain; retentive; as, a tenacious
memory.
3. Having parts apt to adhere to each other;
cohesive; tough; as, steel is a tenacious metal; tar is more
tenacious than oil. Sir I. Newton.
4. Apt to adhere to another substance; glutinous;
viscous; sticking; adhesive. "Female feet, too weak to struggle with
tenacious clay." Cowper.
5. Niggardly; closefisted; miserly.
Ainsworth.
6. Holding stoutly to one's opinion or purpose;
obstinate; stubborn.
-- Te*na"cious*ly, adv. --
Te*na"cious*ness, n.
