tenuous etymology

Etymology

The word "tenuous" comes from the Latin word tenuis, meaning "thin, slender, or delicate". It entered the English language in the early 17th century.

Meaning

Tenuous means:

• Thin, delicate, or fragile
• Slight, uncertain, or insubstantial
• Difficult to maintain or sustain
• Lacking a strong foundation or basis

Origin

The Latin word tenuis is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ten-, meaning "thin" or "stretch". This root also gave rise to the English words "thin", "tend", and "tense".

Examples

• The spider's web was so tenuous that it could barely be seen.
• The evidence for the suspect's guilt was tenuous at best.
• The ceasefire was tenuous and could break down at any moment.
• The company's financial situation is tenuous, and it may not be able to survive much longer.

tenuous relate terms

• tenuious

  Etymology Latin tenuis meaning thin or slender Ultimately from the Proto Indo Eu

• tenuous

  Etymology The word tenuous comes from the Latin word tenuis meaning thin slender or

• tenuity

  Etymology Latin tenuis thin slender Meaning The state of being thin slend

• tenuous

  Etymology The word tenuous comes from the Latin word tenuis meaning thin slender or

• slight

  Etymology The word slight comes from the Old English word sliht which means simple

• thin

  Etymology The word thin is derived from the Old English word þynne which is itself

• hint

  Etymology Old English hynt Middle English hent Meaning A suggestion or clue that

• expert

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanin

• father

  Etymology The word father comes from the Proto Indo European root ph₂tḗr which a

• inspire

  Etymology From Middle English insipyre from Anglo Norman French inspirer from Latin i

• symbiosis

  Etymology The term symbiosis is derived from the Greek words syn meaning together

• data

  Data Etymology From the Latin word datum meaning given Meaning A piece of i

• deception

  Etymology Old French decepcion 13th century Latin deceptio act of deceiving decept

• profane

  Etymology The word profane derives from the Latin profanus meaning outside the tem