tenace

[ ten-eys ]

/ ˈtɛnˌeɪs /

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noun Whist, Bridge.

a sequence of two high cards of the same suit that lack an intervening card to be in consecutive order, as the ace and queen.

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Compare major tenace, minor tenace.

Origin of tenace

1645–55; <Spanish tenazas tongs, tenace (in card games), derivative of tenaz ≪ Latin tenāxtenacious; compare Medieval Latin tenācēs forceps

Words nearby tenace

tempus fugit, Tempyō, Temuco, ten, tenable, tenace, tenacious, tenaciously, tenacity, ten-acre block, tenaculum

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

How to use tenace in a sentence

Chez Laferrière, l'habitude tenace de regarder les hommes le fit s'arrêter.
Histoires grises|E. Edouard Tavernier
This, while not nearly so desirable an opening as a singleton, is better than leading from a tenace.
Auction of To-day|Milton C. Work
Elle le savait, c'tait un gars tenace et rsolu, qui ne revenait jamais sur une parole engage.
Le chteau des Carpathes|Jules Verne
Therefore, as a general proposition, unless the partner have declared, the tenace suit should be led.
Auction of To-day|Milton C. Work

A lead from a tenace or a guarded king or queen is to be avoided.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for tenace

tenace

/ (ˈtɛneɪs) /

noun

bridge whist a holding of two nonconsecutive high cards of a suit, such as the ace and queen

Word Origin for tenace

C17: from French, from Spanish tenaza forceps, ultimately from Latin tenāx holding fast, from tenēre to hold

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