\Ten"ure\, n. [F. tenure, OF. teneure, fr. F. tenir to
hold. See {Tenable}.]
1. The act or right of holding, as property, especially real
   estate.
         That the tenure of estates might rest on equity, the
         Indian title to lands was in all cases to be
         quieted.                              --Bancroft.
2. (Eng. Law) The manner of holding lands and tenements of a
   superior.
Note: Tenure is inseparable from the idea of property in
      land, according to the theory of the English law; and
      this idea of tenure pervades, to a considerable extent,
      the law of real property in the United States, where
      the title to land is essentially allodial, and almost
      all lands are held in fee simple, not of a superior,
      but the whole right and title to the property being
      vested in the owner. Tenure, in general, then, is the
      particular manner of holding real estate, as by
      exclusive title or ownership, by fee simple, by fee
      tail, by courtesy, in dower, by copyhold, by lease, at
      will, etc.
3. The consideration, condition, or service which the
   occupier of land gives to his lord or superior for the use
   of his land.
4. Manner of holding, in general; as, in absolute
   governments, men hold their rights by a precarious tenure.
         All that seems thine own, Held by the tenure of his
         will alone.                           --Cowper.
{Tenure by fee alms}. (Law) See {Frankalmoigne}.