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tenace

tenacious

adjective teh-NAH-cheh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: From Latin tenax, tenacis ('holding fast').

Also means

stubborn, persistent

Usage Note

Tenace praises someone for holding firmly to a goal despite obstacles — closer to English 'tenacious' or 'determined' than merely 'stubborn'. Un ricercatore tenace means 'a tenacious researcher'. The same form is used for masculine and feminine singular; the plural is tenaci. It can also describe a physical grip (una presa tenace — 'a firm grip') or an emotion that persists (un dolore tenace — 'a persistent pain').

Examples

"È una persona tenace che non si arrende facilmente."

Natural Translation

She is a tenacious person who does not give up easily.

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