D defs.my
Entry 20 senses · 6 variants Webster, 1913

Tender

/tĕn'-dẽr/ · Tend·er · IPA /ˈtɛn.dɚ/
01 n. One who tends; one who takes care of any person or thing; a nurse.
  1. 1.
    One who tends; one who takes care of any person or thing; a nurse.
  2. 2.
    A vessel employed to attend other vessels, to supply them with provisions and other stores, to convey intelligence, or the like.(Naut.)
  3. 3.
    A car attached to a locomotive, for carrying a supply of fuel and water.
02 v. t. 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.
imp. & p. p. Tendered; p. pr. & vb. n. Tendering
  1. 1.
    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.(Law)
  2. 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.
03 n. An offer, either of money to pay a debt, or of service to be performed, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture, which would be incurred b…
  1. 1.
    An offer, either of money to pay a debt, or of service to be performed, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture, which would be incurred by nonpayment or nonperformance; as, the tender of rent due, or of the amount of a note, with interest.(Law)
  2. 2.
    Any offer or proposal made for acceptance; as, a tender of a loan, of service, or of friendship; a tender of a bid for a contract.
    “A free, unlimited tender of the gospel.” South.
  3. 3.
    The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of an obligation.
Phrases & compounds
Legal tender — See under Legal.
Tender of issue — a form of words in a pleading, by which a party offers to refer the question raised upon it to the appropriate mode of decision.
04 a. Easily impressed, broken, bruised, or injured; not firm or hard; delicate; as, tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit.
  1. 1.
    Easily impressed, broken, bruised, or injured; not firm or hard; delicate; as, tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit.
  2. 2.
    Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
    “Our bodies are not naturally more tender than our faces.” L'Estrange.
  3. 3.
    Physically weak; not hardly or able to endure hardship; immature; effeminate.
    “The tender and delicate woman among you.” — Deut. xxviii. 56.
  4. 4.
    Susceptible of the softer passions, as love, compassion, kindness; compassionate; pitiful; anxious for another's good; easily excited to pity, forgiveness, or favor; sympathetic.
    “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” — James v. 11.
    “I am choleric by my nature, and tender by my temper.” Fuller.
  5. 5.
    Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
    “I love Valentine, Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!” Shak.
  6. 6.
    Careful to save inviolate, or not to injure; -- with of.
    “The civil authority should be tender of the honor of God and religion.” Tillotson.
  7. 7.
    Unwilling to cause pain; gentle; mild.
    “You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will never do him good.” Shak.
  8. 8.
    Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic; as, tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain.
  9. 9.
    Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate; as, a tender subject.
  10. 10.
    Heeling over too easily when under sail; -- said of a vessel.(Naut.)
05 n. Regard; care; kind concern.
  1. 1.
    Regard; care; kind concern.[Obs.]
06 v. t. To have a care of; to be tender toward; hence, to regard; to esteem; to value.
  1. 1.
    To have a care of; to be tender toward; hence, to regard; to esteem; to value.[Obs.]
    “For first, next after life, he tendered her good.” Spenser.
    Tender yourself more dearly.” Shak.
    “To see a prince in want would move a miser's charity. Our western princes tendered his case, which they counted might be their own.” Fuller.