Etymology of the English word tenacious
the English word
tenacioususing the English suffix
-ousderived from the Latin suffix
-osusderived from the Latin word
tenax (holding fast, clinging; tenacious; restraining)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-Date
The earliest known usage of tenacious in English dates from the 16th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
