[ˈtɛndə], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- showing gentleness, kindness, and affection
(e.g: he was being so kind and tender)

- (of food) easy to cut or chew; not tough
(e.g: tender green beans)

- (of a part of the body) sensitive to pain
(e.g: the pale, tender skin of her forearm)

- young, inexperienced, or vulnerable
(e.g: he started sailing at the tender age of ten)

- (of a ship) leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind


Phrases:
- tender mercies

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener ‘tender, delicate’

[ˈtɛndə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- offer or present (something) formally
(e.g: he tendered his resignation as leader)


Phrases:
- put something out to tender

Origin:
mid 16th century (as a legal term meaning ‘formally offer a plea or evidence, or money to discharge a debt’, also as a noun denoting such an offer): from Old French tendre, from Latin tendere ‘to stretch, hold forth’ (see tend)

[ˈtɛndə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy land, shares, or another asset at a stated fixed price
(e.g: we invited tenders for up to three more frigates)


Phrases:
- put something out to tender

Origin:
mid 16th century (as a legal term meaning ‘formally offer a plea or evidence, or money to discharge a debt’, also as a noun denoting such an offer): from Old French tendre, from Latin tendere ‘to stretch, hold forth’ (see tend)

[ˈtɛndə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a vehicle used by a fire service for carrying specified supplies or equipment or fulfilling a specified role
(e.g: three fire engines, including an emergency tender, attended the scene)

- a dinghy or other boat used to ferry people and supplies to and from a ship

- a trailing vehicle closely coupled to a steam locomotive to carry fuel and water

- a person who looks after someone else or a machine or place
(e.g: Alexei signalled to one of the engine tenders)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘attendant, nurse’): from tend or shortening of attender (see attend)