Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Tenant \Ten"ant\, n. [F. tenant, p. pr. of tenir to hold. See
   {Tenable}, and cf. {Lieutenant}.]
   1. (Law) One who holds or possesses lands, or other real
      estate, by any kind of right, whether in fee simple, in
      common, in severalty, for life, for years, or at will;
      also, one who has the occupation or temporary possession
      of lands or tenements the title of which is in another; --
      correlative to landlord. See Citation from --Blackstone,
      under {Tenement}, 2. --Blount. Wharton.

   2. One who has possession of any place; a dweller; an
      occupant. ``Sweet tenants of this grove.'' --Cowper.

            The hhappy tenant of your shade.      --Cowley.

            The sister tenants of the middle deep. --Byron.

   {Tenant in capite} [L. in in + capite, abl. of caput head,
      chief.], or {Tenant in chief}, by the laws of England, one
      who holds immediately of the king. According to the feudal
      system, all lands in England are considered as held
      immediately or mediately of the king, who is styled lord
      paramount. Such tenants, however, are considered as having
      the fee of the lands and permanent possession.
      --Blackstone.

   {Tenant in common}. See under {Common}.

Tenant \Ten"ant\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tenanted}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Tenanting}.]
   To hold, occupy, or possess as a tenant.

         Sir Roger's estate is tenanted by persons who have
         served him or his ancestors.             --Addison.

Source : WordNet®

tenant
     n 1: someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car
          that is owned by someone else; "the landlord can evict a
          tenant who doesn't pay the rent" [syn: {renter}]
     2: a holder of buildings or lands by any kind of title (as
        ownership or lease)
     3: any occupant who dwells in a place

tenant
     v : occupy as a tenant