tenor
UK: ˈtɛnə | US: ˈtɛnər
n. 1. The general meaning, mood, or direction of something (e.g., speech, writing).
n. 2. The highest natural adult male singing voice.
n. 3. (Finance) The time remaining before a financial instrument matures.
Derived from Latin tenor ("a holding, course, continuity"), the word originally described the sustained melody line in medieval music (the part that "held" the tune). Over time, it expanded metaphorically to denote consistency in speech (e.g., "tenor of an argument") and later specialized in vocal ranges. The financial sense (18th c.) analogizes the "duration" of an investment to the "holding" of a musical note.
The tenor of his speech was optimistic despite the challenges.
The opera’s tenor delivered a breathtaking aria.
The bond’s tenor is five years.
She admired the steady tenor of his leadership.
Critics praised the tenor’s vocal clarity in the performance.