tenacity

Noun

Synonyms: doggedness perseverance persistence persistency tenaciousness pertinacity

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

persistent determinationSynonyms: doggedness perseverance persistence persistency tenaciousness pertinacity

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Tenacity \Te*nac"i*ty\, n. [L. tenacitas: cf. F. t['e]nacit['e]. See Tenacious.]

1.The quality or state of being tenacious; as, tenacity, or retentiveness, of memory; tenacity, or persistency, of purpose. [1913 Webster]

2.That quality of bodies which keeps them from parting without considerable force; cohesiveness; the effect of attraction; -- as distinguished from brittleness, fragility, mobility, etc. [1913 Webster]

3.That quality of bodies which makes them adhere to other bodies; adhesiveness; viscosity. --Holland. [1913 Webster]

4.(Physics) The greatest longitudinal stress a substance can bear without tearing asunder, -- usually expressed with reference to a unit area of the cross section of the substance, as the number of pounds per square inch, or kilograms per square centimeter, necessary to produce rupture. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

TENACITY, n. A certain quality of the human hand in its relation to the coin of the realm. It attains its highest development in the hand of authority and is considered a serviceable equipment for a career in politics. The following illustrative lines were written of a Californian gentleman in high political preferment, who has passed to his accounting:

Of such tenacity his grip That nothing from his hand can slip. Well-buttered eels you may o'erwhelm In tubs of liquid slippery-elm In vain -- from his detaining pinch They cannot struggle half an inch! 'Tis lucky that he so is planned That breath he draws not with his hand, For if he did, so great his greed He'd draw his last with eager speed. Nay, that were well, you say. Not so He'd draw but never let it go!