It's Merriam-Webster's word of the day for January 10th.

Today's word is tenet, spelled T-E-N-E-T. Tenet is a noun. A Tenet is a noun. A Tenet is a principle, belief, or doctrine that is held to be true by members of an organization, movement, or profession.

Here's the word used in a sentence from the San Diego Union Tribune.

Other tenets of sound communication hold.

For example, the use of active listening... tenants of sound communication hold.

For example, the use of active listening skills to identify the person's underlying

needs and drivers of their behavior, and responding respectfully to demonstrate understanding and acknowledge the impact of what happened and their feelings about it.

The word tenet holds a centuries long tenure in the English language, but its hometown is Latin.

In that language, Tenet is a form of the verb Tenere, meaning to hold, and means she or he

holds.

Tenet was borrowed into English around 1600,

probably because of use of the word in Latin writings

to introduce text giving a principle or doctrine held by a person or group such as a particular

church or sect.

The words English use today seems clearly linked, a principle belief or doctrine generally held to be true and especially

one held in common by members of an organization movement or profession is its definition.

Note that the similar sounding word tenant is also from Tenerere.

It arrived in the 1300s and typically refers today to someone who rents or leases

a house or apartment from a landlord.

Be careful not to use tenant when you mean tenant.

Tenure is a Tenere descendant as well.

With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

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