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

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 John Miller Dow Meiklejohn

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 Ralph Waldo Emerson

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 Sir Edward Belcher