Definition of tenant

< tenancy

tenant farmer >

ten·ant    (tnnt) KEY 

NOUN:

1. One that pays rent to use or occupy land, a building, or other property owned by another.
2. A dweller in a place; an occupant.
3. Law One who holds or possesses lands, tenements, or sometimes personal property by any kind of title.

tr. & intr.v.
ten·ant·ed, ten·ant·ing, ten·ants

To hold as a tenant or be a tenant.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from present participle of tenir, to hold, from Latin tenre; see ten- in Indo-European roots