tenderest

Adjective

tender (comparative tenderer, superlative tenderest)

1. Sensitive or painful to the touch.
   • […]poore Lord, is't I
     That chaſe thee from thy Countrie, and expoſe
     Thoſe tender limbes of thine[…]c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
2. Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.
   • tender plants
3. Physically weak; not able to endure hardship.
   • the tender and delicate woman among you1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 28:56
4. Soft and easily chewed.
   • The Matrix is telling my brain this steak is tender, succulent, and juicy.2001, Joey Pantolino (character), The Matrix (movie)
5. Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
   • Our Bodies are not naturally more Tender than our Faces.1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC
6. Fond, loving, gentle, or sweet.
   • Suzanne was such a tender mother to her children.

See all 29 meanings of tender