Property required by a man to maintain his position, i.e. to be able to live according to his rank. Ranulf de *Glanville (d. 1190) stated that when a man inherited he should not make demands for *relief on those who held of him which would jeopardise their contenement. The Latin form is contenementum. [< Lat. con- = with + tenementum = tenure]
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.