"soft, easily injured," c.1225, from O.Fr. tendre "soft, delicate, tender" (11c.), from L. tenerem (nom. 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 c.1330. Tender-hearted first recorded 1539. The verb tenderize is attested from 1733; specifically of food, recorded by 1935, originally Amer.Eng.; tenderizer is recorded from 1958.
"to offer formally," 1542, from M.Fr. tendre "to offer, hold forth" (11c.), from L. tendere "to stretch, extend" (see tenet). The retention of the ending of the M.Fr. infinitive is unusual. The noun meaning "formal offer" is from 1542; specific sense of "money that may be legally offered as payment" is from 1740.
"person who tends another," c.1470, probably an agent noun formed from M.E. 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 1675.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality; "a tender heart"; "a tender smile"; "tender loving care"; "tender memories"; "a tender mother" [ant: tough]
2.
hurting; "the tender spot on his jaw" [syn: sensitive]
3.
young and immature; "at a tender age"
4.
having or displaying warmth or affection; "affectionate children"; "a fond embrace"; "fond of his nephew"; "a tender glance"; "a warm embrace" [syn: affectionate]
In*ten"er*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Intenerating.] [Pref. in- in + L. tener soft, tender. See Tender, a.] To make tender or sensitive; to soften. Fear intenerates the heart. --Bp. Hall. So have I seen the little purls of a stream . . . intenerate the stubborn pavement. --Jer. Taylor.
Tend\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tended; p. pr. & vb. n. Tending.] [Aphetic form of attend. See Attend, Tend to move, and cf. Tender one that tends or attends.]1. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard; as, shepherds tend their flocks. --Shak. And flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthly charge. --Milton. There 's not a sparrow or a wren, There 's not a blade of autumn grain, Which the four seasons do not tend And tides of life and increase lend. --Emerson. 2. To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to. Being to descend A ladder much in height, I did not tend My way well down. --Chapman. To tend a vessel (Naut.), to manage an anchored vessel when the tide turns, so that in swinging she shall not entangle the cable.
Tend\, v. i. [F. tendre, L. tendere, tensum and tentum, to stretch, extend, direct one's course, tend; akin to Gr. ? to stretch, Skr. tan. See Thin, and cf. Tend to attend, Contend, Intense, Ostensible, Portent, Tempt, Tender to offer, Tense, a.]1. To move in a certain direction; -- usually with to or towards. Two gentlemen tending towards that sight. --Sir H. Wotton. Thus will this latter, as the former world, Still tend from bad to worse. --Milton. The clouds above me to the white Alps tend. --Byron. 2. To be directed, as to any end, object, or purpose; to aim; to have or give a leaning; to exert activity or influence; to serve as a means; to contribute; as, our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. --Prov. xxi. 5. The laws of our religion tend to the universal happiness of mankind. --Tillotson.
Tend"er\, n. [From Tend to attend. Cf. Attender.]1. One who tends; one who takes care of any person or thing; a nurse. 2. (Naut.) A vessel employed to attend other vessels, to supply them with provisions and other stores, to convey intelligence, or the like. 3. A car attached to a locomotive, for carrying a supply of fuel and water.
Ten"der\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tendered; p. pr. & vb. n. Tendering.] [F. tendre to stretch, stretch out, reach, L. tendere. See Tend to move.]1. (Law) To offer in payment or satisfaction of a demand, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture; as, to tender the amount of rent or debt. 2. To offer in words; to present for acceptance. You see how all conditions, how all minds, . . . tender down Their services to Lord Timon. --Shak.
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