Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for tender on Thesaurus.com adjective, ten·der·er, ten·der·est. soft or delicate in substance; not hard or tough: a tender steak. weak or delicate in constitution; not strong or hardy. (of plants) unable to withstand freezing temperatures. young or immature: children of tender age. delicate or soft in quality: tender blue. delicate, soft, or gentle: the tender touch of her hand. easily moved to sympathy or compassion; kind: a tender heart. affectionate or loving; sentimental or amatory: a tender glance. considerate or careful; chary or reluctant (usually followed by of ). acutely or painfully sensitive: a tender bruise. easily distressed; readily made uneasy: a tender conscience. yielding readily to force or pressure; easily broken; fragile. of a delicate or ticklish nature; requiring careful or tactful handling: a tender subject. Nautical crank2 (def 1) .Show More
to make tender. Archaic to regard or treat tenderly. Show More
Origin of tender 1 1175–1225; Middle English, variant of tendre < Old French < Latin tenerum, accusative of tener tender
Related forms ten·der·ly , adverb ten·der·ness , noun self-ten·der·ness , noun un·ten·der·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tenderly Contemporary Examples of tenderly I held it in my arms until the alarm in the safe rang harshly, and then tenderly , proudly, I replaced it and shut the steel doors.
I first glimpsed 11-year-old Yussef Mohamed tenderly cleaning the face of someone wounded.
Not since Bill Clinton has the middle class been so tenderly wooed.
The models walked with a fistful of red roses, tenderly tossing them onto the bed-bound boys as they turned a corner.
But underneath all the brave chutzpah, wit, jokes and verve, it is touching, naïve and tenderly confused.
Historical Examples of tenderly And Dick took Mary's hand in a warm clasp, pressed it tenderly .
His eyes were so tenderly regardful that—I could not help it.
She took the young girl in her arms, and tenderly kissed her forehead.
There was a short silence, when a voice called her tenderly .
After this she would be on her guard, forestall Martin, do tenderly what he would do harshly.
Dust Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
British Dictionary definitions for tenderly easily broken, cut, or crushed; soft; not tough a tender steak easily damaged; vulnerable or sensitive a tender youth ; at a tender age having or expressing warm and affectionate feelings a tender smile kind, merciful, or sympathetic a tender heart arousing warm feelings; touching a tender memory gentle and delicate a tender breeze requiring care in handling; ticklish a tender question painful or sore a tender wound sensitive to moral or spiritual feelings a tender conscience (postpositive foll by of ) careful or protective tender of one's emotions (of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by a wind; crank Compare stiff (def. 10) Show More
(tr) rare to make tender to treat tenderly Show More
Derived Forms tenderly , adverb tenderness , noun Word Origin for tender C13: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener delicate
(tr) to give, present, or offer to tender one's resignation ; tender a bid (intr foll by for ) to make a formal offer or estimate for (a job or contract) (tr) law to offer (money or goods) in settlement of a debt or claim Show More
the act or an instance of tendering; offer commerce a formal offer to supply specified goods or services at a stated cost or rate something, esp money, used as an official medium of payment legal tender Show More
Derived Forms tenderable , adjective tenderer , noun Word Origin for tender C16: from Anglo-French tendre, from Latin tendere to extend; see tend 1
a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast a person who tends Show More
Word Origin for tender C15: variant of attender
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tenderly adj. "soft, easily injured," early 13c., from Old French tendre "soft, delicate, tender" (11c.), from Latin tenerem (nominative tener ) "soft, delicate, of tender age," from PIE *ten- "stretch" (see tenet ). Meaning "kind, affectionate, loving" first recorded c.1300. Meaning "having the delicacy of youth, immature" is attested from early 14c. Tender-hearted first recorded 1530s.
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v. "to offer formally," 1540s, from Middle French tendre "to offer, hold forth" (11c.), from Latin tendere "to stretch, extend" (see tenet ). The retention of the ending of the French infinitive is unusual. The noun meaning "formal offer" is from 1540s; specific sense of "money that may be legally offered as payment" is from 1740.
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n. "person who tends another," late 15c., probably an agent noun formed from Middle English tenden "attend to" (see tend (2)); later extended to locomotive engineers (1825) and barmen (1883). The meaning "small boat used to attend larger ones" first recorded 1670s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Easily crushed or bruised; fragile. Easily hurt; sensitive. Painful; sore. Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with tenderly see leave to someone's tender mercies.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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