\Ten"a*ble\, a. [F. tenable, fr. tenir to hold, L.
tenere. See {Thin}, and cf. {Continue}, {Continent},
{Entertain}, {Maintain}, {Tenant}, {Tent}.]
Capable of being held, naintained, or defended, as against an
assailant or objector, or againts attempts to take or
process; as, a tenable fortress, a tenable argument.
      If you have hitherto concealed his sight, Let it be
      tenable in your silence still.           --Shak.
      I would be the last man in the world to give up his
      cause when it was tenable.               --Sir W.
                                               Scott.