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.
2.
Apt to retain; retentive; as, a tenacious memory.
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.
4.
Apt to adhere to another substance; glutinous; viscous; sticking; adhesive.
"Female feet, too weak to struggle with
tenacious clay."
Cowper.
5.
Niggardly; closefisted; miserly.
Ainsworth.
6.
Holding stoutly to one's opinion or purpose; obstinate; stubborn.
-- Te*na"cious*ly, adv. -- Te*na"cious*ness, n.
© Webster 1913.