tenor
adjective/ˈtenə(r)/
/ˈtenər/
[only before noun]- (of a musical instrument) with a range of notes similar to that of a tenor voice
- a tenor saxophone
Word Originadjective late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin, based on tenere ‘to hold’; so named because the tenor part was allotted (and therefore “held”) the melody.Want to learn more?
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