tenure

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French teneure, tenure, from Medieval Latin tenitura, from Vulgar Latin *tenitus, past participle of Latin tenēre to hold — more at thin Date: 15th century 1. the act, right, manner, or term of holding something (as a landed property, a position, or an office); especially a status granted after a trial period to a teacher that gives protection from summary dismissal 2. grasp, hold • tenurable adjective • tenurial adjective • tenurially adverb