tenāx ācis, adj. with comp. and (late) sup. 2 TA-, holding fast, griping, tenacious: forceps, V.: dente tenaci Ancora fundabat navīs, V.: lappa, O.

—Holding fast, griping, sparing, niggardly, stingy, tenacious: pater: genus Quaesiti tenax, O.

—Of things, holding fast, clinging: in tenaci gramine, i. e. matted, H.: cerae, sticky, V.: passu stare tenaci, O.: pondere tenacior (navis), L.: luctandum est cum tenacissimo sabulo, Cu.

—Fig., holding fast, retentive, firm, steadfast, persistent, tenacious: fides, O.: propositi, H.: iustitiae, Iu.: ficti pravique (Fama), V.

—Stubborn, obstinate: equus contra sua vincla tenax, O.: equum tenacem, non parentem, etc., L.: Caesaris ira, O.