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tenderness. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
tenderness, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
tenderness in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
tenderness you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
tender + -ness
Pronunciation
Noun
tenderness (countable and uncountable, plural tendernesses)
- a tendency to express warm, compassionate feelings
When the lovers were together, their cold indifference gave way to love and tenderness.
1853, Charlotte Brontë, Villette:I had known him jealous, suspicious; I had seen about him certain tendernesses, fitfulnesses—a softness which came like a warm air, and a ruth which passed like early dew, dried in the heat of his irritabilities: this was all I had seen.
- concern for the feelings or welfare of others
When they saw the poor orphans, they were overwhelmed with tenderness for them.
Everybody needs a little tenderness sometimes.
- pain or discomfort when an affected area is touched
He noted her extreme tenderness when he touched the bruise on her thigh.
Derived terms
Translations
a tendency to express warm, compassionate feelings
concern for the feelings or welfare of others
pain or discomfort when an affected area is touched
softness of food when chewing