intenerate

American  

[in-ten-uh-reyt] / ɪnˈtɛn əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

intenerated, intenerating

1. to make soft or tender; soften.

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intenerate British  

/ ɪnˈtɛnəˌreɪt /

verb

1. rare (tr) to soften or make tender

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Other Word Forms

• inteneration
  noun

Etymology

Origin of intenerate

1585–95; in- ² + Latin tener tender ¹ + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intenerate intenerated

Thus she contrives to intenerate the granite and felspar, takes the boar out and puts the lamb in and keeps her balance true.

From Essays — First Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo

The verb intenerate tried to turn out soften; and deturpate to take the place of defile.

From A Brief History of the English Language and Literature, Vol. 2 by Meiklejohn, John Miller Dow

An influence imputed to the moon in the tropics, by which fish, particularly of the Scomber class, though recently taken, become intenerated, and even spoiled; while some attribute poisonous qualities to them in this state.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir