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Webster 1913 Edition

Tenant

Ten′ant

,
Noun.
[F.
tenant
, p. pr. of
tenir
to hold. See
Tenable
, and cf.
Lieutenant
.]
1.
(Law)
One who holds or possesses lands, or other real estate, by any kind of right, whether in fee simple, in common, in severalty, for life, for years, or at will; also, one who has the occupation or temporary possession of lands or tenements the title of which is in another; – correlative to landlord. See Citation from
Blackstone
, under
Tenement
, 2.
Blount. Wharton.
2.
One who has possession of any place; a dweller; an occupant.
“Sweet tenants of this grove.”
Cowper.
The hhappy
tenant
of your shade.
Cowley.
The sister
tenants
of the middle deep.
Byron.
Tenant in capite
[L.
in
in +
capite
, abl. of
caput
head, chief.]
, or
Tenant in chief
,
by the laws of England, one who holds immediately of the king. According to the feudal system, all lands in England are considered as held immediately or mediately of the king, who is styled lord paramount. Such tenants, however, are considered as having the fee of the lands and permanent possession.
Blackstone.
–
Tenant in common
.
See under
Common
.

Ten′ant

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tenanted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Tenanting
.]
To hold, occupy, or possess as a tenant.
Sir Roger’s estate is
tenanted
by persons who have served him or his ancestors.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tenant

TEN'ANT

,
Noun.
[L. teneo; Gr. to strain, stretch, extend.]
1.
A person holding land or other real estate under another, either by grant, lease or at will; one who has the occupation or temporary possession of lands or tenements whose title is in another; as a tenant in tail; tenant in common; tenant by the curtesy; tenant in parcenary; tenant for life; tenant at will; tenant in dower.
2.
One who has possession of any place; a dweller.
The happy tenant of your shade.
Tenant in capite, or tenant in chief, by the laws of England, is one who holds immediately of the king. According to the feudal system, all lands in England are considered as held immediately or mediately of the king, who is stiled lord paramount. Such tenants however are considered as having the fee of the lands and permanent possession.

TEN'ANT

,
Verb.
T.
To hold or possess as a tenant.
Sir Roger's estate is tenanted by persons who have served him or his ancestors.

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