Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Tenace

Tenace (ten"as) , noun

[French tenace tenacious, demeurer tenace to hold the best and third best cards and take both tricks, the adversary having to lead. See Tenacious.]

(Whist) The holding by the fourth hand of the best and third best cards of a suit led; also, sometimes, the combination of best with third best card of a suit in any hand.