tender (adj.)

c. 1200, "immature, having the delicacy of youth, unsophisticated," also "susceptible to injury, sensitive to pain," from Old French tendre, Anglo-French tender, "soft, delicate; young" (11c.), from Latin tenerem (nominative tener) "soft, delicate; of tender age, youthful." For the unetymological -d-, see D.

This is reconstructed to be a derivative of PIE root *ten- "to stretch" on the notion of "stretched," hence "thin," hence "weak" or "young." Compare Sanskrit tarunah "young, tender," Greek teren "tender, delicate," Armenian t'arm "young, fresh, green." Also see tenet.

The meaning "kind, affectionate, loving" also "easily pained, very sensitive," is recorded from late 13c. As "expressing sensitive feelings" from c. 1300.

Of food, "not tough, soft and easy to cut or chew," mid-13c. Of plants and their parts, "slender, not hardy," late 14c. Related: Tenderly; tenderness.

"make offer of, offer formally" (a plea, an oath, evidence), especially "offer (money) in payment," c. 1400, tendren, from Old French tendre "to offer, hold forth" (11c.), from Latin tendere "to stretch, extend, make tense; aim, direct; direct oneself, hold a course" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). The retention of the ending of the French infinitive is unusual (compare render (v.)).

late 15c., "person who tends another," probably an agent noun formed from Middle English tenden "attend to" (see tend (v.2)).

The sense shift from 1825 to "man who tends to a machine" (in the locomotive engine-tender) or a business operation (bartender, 1836). The nautical meaning "small vessel used to attend larger ones," supplying provisions, conveying information, etc., is by 1670s. In railroading, "car attached to the locomotive for fuel, water, etc.," by 1825.

"a formal offer for acceptance, offer made from one party to another," a legal word, 1540s, from tender (v.). The specific sense of "money (or other thing) offered as payment" is from 1740, in legal tender "currency which by law must be accepted from a debtor" (see legal). Earlier it meant "a grant providing a trade license" (late 15c., from Old French tendre).