tenor

noun /ˈtenər/
  1. [singular] the tenor of something (formal) the general character or meaning of something
    • I was encouraged by the general tenor of his remarks.
    • The whole tenor of the meeting was very positive.
    • The general tenor of her argument was that Parliament should redress the balance between rich and poor.
Origin: noun senses 1 to 2 late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin, based on tenere ‘to hold’; so named because the tenor part was allotted (and therefore “held”) the melody. noun sense 3 Middle English: from Old French tenour, from Latin tenor ‘course, substance, import of a law’, from tenere ‘to hold’.

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