[a. L. tenet ‘he holds,’ 3 sing. of tenēre to hold. See also TENENT sb.
Prob. adopted from mod. Latin writings, in which it introduced the opinion or doctrine that a person, church, or sect holds. Cf. similar use of habitat, incipit, explicit.]
A doctrine, dogma, principle, or opinion, in religion, philosophy, politics, or the like, held by a school, sect, party, or person.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., II. iv. § 3 (1622), 230. And this … is not onely his owne particular opinion…; but the generall Tenet, of all the Philosophers.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), Summary, 3/2. The Church of Englands Tenet, that no salvation, but by Christ alone.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Tenet, or Tenent, a Doctrine, or Opinion.
1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 210. The practical consequences of any political tenet go a great way in deciding upon its value.
1858. Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), II. i. 51. The liberality of every sect depends, not at all on its avowed tenets but on the circumstances in which it is placed.
b. More trivially: Any opinion held.
1630. Brathwait, Eng. Gentlem. (1641), 288. My tenet is, ‘one cannot truely love, and not be wise.’
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. lxxvii. (1674), 102. You have infinitely verified the Tenet which all the Literati have of you.
1742. Lond. & Country Brew., I. (ed. 4), 42. Vouching it to be a true Tenet, that, if Hops are boiled above thirty Minutes, the Wort will have some or more of their worser Quality.
c. 1765. Gray, Satire, 28. The Master of Benet Is of the like tenet.
