tenuto
adverb or adjective
te·nu·to tā-ˈnü-(ˌ)tō 
: in a manner so as to hold a tone or chord firmly to its full value —used as a direction in music
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Italian, from past participle of tenere "to hold," going back to Latin tenēre "to hold, possess" — more at tenant entry 1
First Known Use
1762, in the meaning defined above