the adult male singing voice above baritone
"The conductor raised his hand to signal the tenor soloist to begin the high, clear melody at the top of the chorus."
the pitch range of the highest male voice
"The tenor sang the soaring high notes in the final chorus, showcasing his wide vocal range."
an adult male with a tenor voice
"The church choir was looking to recruit a young man with a clear tenor voice to sing the high parts."
a settled or prevailing or habitual course of a person's life
"nothing disturbed the even tenor of her ways"
A musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.
"The choir was arranged so that the tenors sang just above the basses while sitting below the altos."
In plain English: Tenor is the main theme, mood, or general meaning of something that you can feel when listening to it or reading about it.
"The tenor of his speech was very optimistic about our future plans."
Usage: In non-musical contexts, "tenor" refers to the general tone or gist of a speech rather than a specific pitch range. Avoid confusing this noun with "tender," which describes something gentle or delicate.
Of or pertaining to the tenor part or range.
"The choir director instructed the basses to sing in a lower voice, distinct from the higher register used by the trebles."
In plain English: Tenor describes something that is serious, steady, and focused on its main purpose rather than being flashy or emotional.
"The letter had an angry tenor that made everyone nervous."
The word "tenor" entered English via Old French and Anglo-Norman, originally describing the substance or meaning of a text before taking on its specific musical sense. It derives from the Latin teneō, which means "to hold," reflecting the idea that this voice part holds the main melody while others provide harmony.