tender adj. (1 cf. TENDER-DYING; “ years” Ven. 1091)
1.
young, youthful, immature
R2 II. iii. 42
“, raw, and
young,”
3H6 II. ii. 28 [birds]
“in protection of their
tender ones . . . Make war” . . .
2.
(of climate, air)
mild, soft
Tp. II. i. 42
“of subtle, , and
delicate temperance,”
Cym. V. iv. 140
“ air”
[v. 448 ‘mollis
aer’].
3.
dear, beloved,
precious
Gent. V. iv. 37
“Whose life's as to me as
my soul,”
Troil. IV. v. 106*
“ objects,”
Mac. I. vii. 55
“How 'tis to love the
babe that milks me.”
4.
finely sensitive in
respect of physical perception or feeling
MND. IV. i. 28
“I am such a
ass,”
Lucr. 695
“Unapt for smell,”
Sonn. cxli. 6
“ feeling”
; cf.
LLL. V. ii. 567
“-smelling
knight,”
2H6 II. iv. 9
“her tender-feeling
feet.”
5.
“
of,” sensitive to
Cym. III. v. 40
“So of rebukes;
—
over (o'er),”
having great consideration or compassion for
Wint. II. iii. 127
“ o'er his
follies,”
132 “that hast A heart
so o'er it,”
Cym. V. v. 87
“A page . . . So tender
over his occasions.”
