se-tenant

or se ten·ant

[ suh-ten-uhnt, set-n-ahn, suh-tuh-nahn ]

/ səˈtɛn ənt, ˌsɛt nˈɑ̃, sə təˈnɑ̃ /

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noun Philately.

a group of stamps that differ in color, value, or design but are printed together on the same sheet and are collected without separating the stamps.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of se-tenant

1910–15; <French: literally, standing, remaining, holding together, equivalent to se 3rd singular reflexive pronoun + tenant present participle of tenir to hold (see tenant)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use se-tenant in a sentence

These accusations against the 77-year-old comic are not—for the most part—actually news, per se.
It’s Not Just Cosby: Hollywood’s Long List of Male Scumbags|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was not a musical performance, per se, but you bet your ass this was a “performance”—albeit a well-intentioned and noble one.
Butts, ‘Bang Bang’ & Beyoncé: The Craziest MTV Video Music Awards Moments|Kevin Fallon|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the law itself is hard to enforce unless there is a specific complaint about a tenant.
Inside Uber’s Political War Machine|Olivia Nuzzi|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was not a retrial per se, but rather a fresh look at the appeal process that freed Knox.
Italian Judge Explains Why Amanda Knox Did It|Barbie Latza Nadeau|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The state has a nonpartisan "jungle primary," so there is no GOP nominee per se.
With Incumbents To Protect, The Tea Party Is Now Playing Defense|Michelle Cottle|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Il avoit sa belle robe soubs soy (car c'estoit en est), et se preparoit sa harangue funebre.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
L'adieu et le deuil se clost par l'occision des chiens ce que le mourant ait des avants-coureurs en l'autre monde.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Arrivs, Monsieur de Biancourt se mit en armes, pour en cet arroy aller veoir Meteourmite.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ainsy se passa cette visite, et une autre que je fis depuis.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Ce fut lors que nos gens se penserent estre veritablement prins, et j tout n'estoit que clameur et tumulte.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for se-tenant

se tenant

/ French (sə tənɑ̃) /

adjective

denoting two postage stamps of different face values and sometimes of different designs in an unseparated pair

noun

such a pair of stamps

Word Origin for se tenant

literally: holding together

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012