2. (Naut.) A vessel employed to attend other vessels, to
supply them with provisions and other stores, to convey
intelligence, or the like.
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.
Note: To constitute a legal tender, such money must be
offered as the law prescribes. So also the tender must
be at the time and place where the rent or debt ought
to be paid, and it must be to the full amount due.
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. The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of
an obligation. --Shak.
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.
2. Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Our bodies are not naturally more tender than our
faces. --L'Estrange.
3. Physically weak; not hardly or able to endure hardship;
immature; effeminate.
The tender and delicate woman among you. --Deut.
xxviii. 56.
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. Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
I love Valentine, Whose life's as tender to me as my
soul! --Shak.
6. Careful to save inviolate, or not to injure; -- with of.
``Tender of property.'' --Burke.
The civil authority should be tender of the honor of
God and religion. --Tillotson.
7. Unwilling to cause pain; gentle; mild.
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies, Will
never do him good. --Shak.
8. Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the
softer passions; pathetic; as, tender expressions; tender
expostulations; a tender strain.
9. Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate; as, a
tender subject. ``Things that are tender and unpleasing.''
--Bacon.
10. (Naut.) Heeling over too easily when under sail; -- said
of a vessel.
Note: Tender is sometimes used in the formation of
self-explaining compounds; as, tender-footed,
tender-looking, tender-minded, tender-mouthed, and the
like.
Syn: Delicate; effeminate; soft; sensitive; compassionate;
kind; humane; merciful; pitiful.