from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tenacious \Te*na"cious\, a. [L. tenax, -acis, from tenere to
hold. See {Tenable}, and cf. {Tenace}.]
1. Holding fast, or inclined to hold fast; inclined to retain
what is in possession; as, men tenacious of their just
rights.
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2. Apt to retain; retentive; as, a tenacious memory.
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3. Having parts apt to adhere to each other; cohesive; tough;
as, steel is a tenacious metal; tar is more tenacious than
oil. --Sir I. Newton.
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4. Apt to adhere to another substance; glutinous; viscous;
sticking; adhesive. "Female feet, too weak to struggle
with tenacious clay." --Cowper.
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5. Niggardly; closefisted; miserly. --Ainsworth.
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6. Holding stoutly to one's opinion or purpose; obstinate;
stubborn.
[1913 Webster] -- {Te*na"cious*ly}, adv. --
{Te*na"cious*ness}, n.
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