The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tenure \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.
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That the tenure of estates might rest on equity, the
Indian title to lands was in all cases to be
quieted. --Bancroft.
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2. (Eng. Law) The manner of holding lands and tenements of a
superior.
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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.
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3. The consideration, condition, or service which the
occupier of land gives to his lord or superior for the use
of his land.
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4. Manner of holding, in general; as, in absolute
governments, men hold their rights by a precarious tenure.
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All that seems thine own,
Held by the tenure of his will alone. --Cowper.
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Tenure by fee alms. (Law) See Frankalmoigne.
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