Middle English Dictionary Entry
tender n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | tender n.(1) Also tendre. |
| Etymology | From tender adj. & AF tendre tender shoot. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Immaturity, youth; ~ of his age; (b) a tender shoot, young sprout [cp. tendron n.]; the tendirst, the most pliant shoot of a willow; (c) solicitousness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)254/17 : Þe Kyng, for tendre of his age, shulde be gouernede be tuelf grete Lordes of Engeland.
- (1439) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.121 : If þe children of þe seid William..happened to ouer lyf and be mysgouerned in hor tendre, þai shulden be holpen & releved.
b
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)87b : Wythi ys dry in kynde; take the tendyrst of him and stampe hit.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)169/23 : Take..of þe watyr of palmys, and put þer-to of tendris þat beere wylde applis a pounde.
c
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)216/24 : Tendre of cun ne limpeð nawt ancre beonne.