See also: tènement

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English tenement, from Anglo-Norman tenement (holding), from Old French tenement, from Medieval Latin tenimentum, from Latin teneō (hold).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈtɛnɪmənt/
  • (file)

Noun edit

tenement (plural tenements)

  1. A building that is rented to multiple tenants, especially a low-rent, run-down one.
    • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 5]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, [], →OCLC:
      He turned into Cumberland street and, going on some paces, halted in the lee of the station wall. No-one. Meade’s timberyard. Piled balks. Ruins and tenements.
  2. (law) Any form of property that is held by one person from another, rather than being owned.
    The island of Brecqhou is a tenement of Sark.
  3. (figurative) Dwelling; abode; habitation.
    • 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. [], London: [] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, [], →OCLC:
      Who has informed us that a rational soul can inhabit no tenement, unless it has just such a sort of frontispiece?
    • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
      Where she came from no man could tell. There were some said she was no woman, but a ghost haunting some mortal tenement.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit

 
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References edit

Occitan edit

Etymology edit

First attested in the 13th century, From Old Occitan [Term?], from Medieval Latin tenimentum, from Latin teneō (hold).

Noun edit

tenement m (plural tenements)

  1. (Feudalism) a rural domain, manor, holdings (land)

Old French edit

Etymology edit

Medieval Latin tenementum, from Latin verb teneō. See the verb tenir.

Noun edit

tenement oblique singularm (oblique plural tenemenz or tenementz, nominative singular tenemenz or tenementz, nominative plural tenement)

  1. holding (of land)

Descendants edit

  • English: tenement
  • French: tènement