tenant
UK: ˈtɛnənt | US: ˈtɛnənt
n. a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord
n. (law) one who holds or possesses real estate or land by any kind of right
n. (figurative) an occupant or dweller of a place
tenant = ten<hold> + ant<noun suffix>
- ten<hold>: From Old French tenir (to hold), derived from Latin tenēre (to hold, keep).
- ant<noun suffix>: A suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., "servant," "defendant"), from Latin -antem (accusative of -ans).
Etymology Origin:
The word "tenant" traces back to the Latin tenēre (to hold), reflecting the legal concept of holding or possessing property. Through Old French tenir, it entered Middle English as tenaunt, emphasizing the role of one who "holds" land under a landlord. The suffix -ant solidifies its meaning as an agent noun, akin to "servant" or "occupant."
The tenant pays rent monthly for the apartment.
As a long-term tenant, he has rights protected by law.
The landlord and tenant signed a lease agreement.
The building’s tenants complained about the broken elevator.
In feudal systems, a tenant held land in exchange for service.