I. ten·der ˈtendə(r) adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French tendre, from Latin tener tender, young; probably akin to Sabine tereno- soft, Greek terēn soft, tender, teru weak, delicate, Sanskrit taruṇa tender, young
1.
a. : having a soft or yielding texture : easily broken, cut, or damaged : not hard or tough : not resistant : delicate , fragile
that remarkable tender limestone which is the island's chief treasure — J.P.O'Donnell
the ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet — Shakespeare
its eggs are extremely frail and tender — Richard Semon
b. : easily chewed : succulent
small buttered ears of the tenderest white corn — Mary McCarthy
c. of wool : having a weak staple lacking in tensile strength
2.
a. : physically weak : not able to endure hardship
they're a thought too young and tender for the work at hand … it's bitter cold up at the front now — Rudyard Kipling
b. : not fully developed or grown : immature , young
blight so agreeable a myth in its tender stage — V.L.Parrington
children of tender years
c. : incapable of resisting cold : not hardy
as the climate grows more severe toward the interior of the continent, many of the more tender species drop out — Boy Scout Handbk.
d. dialect chiefly Britain : in feeble health
3. : marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer emotions : fond , loving
the security that goes with a tender relationship — Abram Kardiner
for the moment she was tender with regrets — Sherwood Anderson
the sweet things of life, the fastidious and tender things, the gentle approaches — Richard Church
4.
a. : showing care or thoughtful consideration : careful to keep from harm or injury : solicitous
a tender and consistent regard for the rights of states — C.A. & Mary Beard
a tender and far-reaching solicitude could not always save the Egyptian cat from harm — Agnes Repplier
b. : highly susceptible to impressions or emotions : impressionable
thinking to quiet your tender conscience with this pitiful stratagem — T.L.Peacock
c. : showing care to avoid or prevent : cautious , wary
did not want to take blame to herself, and was most tender of throwing any on her husband — Jane Austen
5.
a. : soft in action or movement
a tender wind stirred the water — Elinor Wylie
b. : appropriate or conductive to a delicate or sensitive constitution or character : not rough, harsh, or severe : gentle , mild
tender breeding
tender irony
c. : delicate or soft in quality or tone
looked out on the long and tender dawn of the flatlands — Meridel Le Sueur
sounds of many contrasting kinds: harsh as well as mellow, brilliant as well as tender — Robert Donington
6. obsolete : dear , precious
whose life's as tender to me as my soul — Shakespeare
7.
a. : sensitive to the touch
a tender scar
: painful on palpation
a tender palpable kidney
a tender spleen
b. : sensitive to injury or insult : easily offended : touchy
a peerage was protection for tender pride — J.M.Barzun
c. : demanding careful and sensitive handling : ticklish
they both felt that the situation was extremely tender and critical — W.M.Thackeray
d. of a ship : inclined to heel over easily under sail : somewhat crank
the bricks were not good ballast because they were too light and the boat was very tender — H.A.Calahan
Synonyms:
responsive , compassionate , sympathetic , warm , warmhearted : tender may indicate an inclination to gentle emotions like love or kindliness or cherishing, affectionate, or gentle solicitude
his mother was very tender with him — D.H.Lawrence
a tender laugh of benevolence — W.M.Thackeray
responsive indicates a ready inclination to respond or react impressionably to others' emotions, especially warmer ones, or to conditions or circumstances facing one
she took up life, and became alert to the world again, responsive, like a ship in full sail, to every wind that blew — Rose Macaulay
compassionate describes a disposition easily moved to pity, mercy, or tolerance of others
one who cherishes the ideal of tolerance may enfold Fascists in the mantle of compassionate understanding — H.J.Muller
love was unfailing in compassionate word and deed — H.O.Taylor
sympathetic is somewhat wider than compassionate in indicating a disposition to share another's emotions, especially his sorrows, but also his interests and ways of thought
cynicism found no echo in the large and sympathetic temper — J.R.Green
the sailors themselves were sympathetic … but the masters (the hunters and the captain) were heartlessly indifferent — Jack London
a temper so sympathetic and responsive was immensely influenced by others as well as inclined to influence them — Gamaliel Bradford
warm indicates a ready capacity for love, affection, or interest, with more heartiness, cordiality, or fervor, and less softness and gentleness than indicated by tender
a perfect gentleman, unaffected, warm, and obliging — Jane Austen
the warm courage of national unity — F.D.Roosevelt
warmhearted may describe a warm personality oriented toward well-wishing, generosity, or sympathy
Arizonans are warmhearted and hospitable — American Guide Series: Arizona
the idea of sharing poverty and privation in company with the beloved object is … far from being disagreeable to a warmhearted woman — W.M.Thackeray
II. tender verb
( tendered ; tendered ; tendering -(ə)ring ; tenders )
Etymology: Middle English tendren, from tender (I)
transitive verb
1. : to make tender : soften , weaken
the tendered areas to which leaks are due — Manual of Firemanship (Gt. British)
2. archaic : to regard or treat with tenderness
which name I tender as dearly as may own — Shakespeare
3. : to weaken (textile fibers or fabrics) especially in the process of bleaching, dyeing, or printing
intransitive verb
: to become tender
the dyed cotton is liable to tender on prolonged storage — C.M.Whittaker & C.C.Wilcock
III. tender noun
( -s )
Etymology: tender (I)
obsolete : consideration , regard
IV. tend·er ˈtendə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from tenden to tend, attend to + -er
: one that tends : one that takes care of a person or thing: as
a.
(1) : a ship employed to attend other ships (as to supply them with provisions and other stores, to transport catches of fish to the market)
(2) : a boat or small steamer for communication between shore and a larger vessel
(3) : a warship that provides logistic support
a destroyer tender
seaplane tender
b. : a vehicle attached to a locomotive for carrying a supply of fuel and water
c. or tender truck : an auxiliary fire-fighting vehicle ; especially : one carrying hose and special equipment
V. ten·der ˈtendə(r) verb
( tendered ; tendered ; tendering -d(ə)riŋ ; tenders )
Etymology: Middle French tendre to stretch out, offer — more at tend
transitive verb
1. : to proffer in satisfaction of an obligation or condition arising from a relationship between parties
tender the amount of rent
2.
a. : to present for acceptance : offer freely : proffer
tendered his resignation
tendered his advice
tendered a banquet to their colleague on retirement
b. : to offer for sale
tender stock
intransitive verb
: to make a tender for a contract : make a bid — often used with for
contractors who propose tendering for this scheme — Scotsman
Synonyms: see offer
VI. tender noun
( -s )
1. : a proffer of money, property, or services in satisfaction of an obligation or condition arising from a relationship between parties
2. : an offer or proposal made for acceptance
honored him by the tender of some important appointment — J.D.Hicks
as
a. : an offer of a bid for a contract
became as exhilarated as if his tender for building a mansion had been accepted — Flora Thompson
b. : an offering of securities for bidding
c. Scots law : an offer of compromise settlement made during litigation
3. : something that may be offered in payment ; specifically : money
no State shall … make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts — U.S. Constitution