Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
TELEOLOGY — TENDRAC
TELEOLOGY, n. [Gr. end, and discourse.] The science of the final causes of things.
TELESCOPE, n. [Gr. end, or at a distance, probably the latter, and to see.] An optical instrument employed in viewing distant objects, as the heavenly bodies. It assists the eye chiefly in two ways; first, by enlarging the visual angle under which a distant object is seen, and thus magnifying that object; and secondly, by collecting and conveying to the eye a larger beam of light than would enter the naked organ, and thus rendering objects distinct and visible which would otherwise be indistinct or invisible. Its essential parts are the object glass, which collects the beam of light and forms an image of the object, and the eye glass, which is a microscope by which the image is magnified.
TELESCOPE-SHELL, n. In conchology, a species of turbo with place, striated and numerous spires.
TELESCOPIC, TELESCOPICAL, a. Pertaining to a telescope; performed by a telescope; as a telescopic view.
1. Seen or discoverable only by a telescope; as telescopic stars.
TELESIA, n. Sapphire.
TELESM, n. A kind of amulet or magical charm.
TELESMATIC, TELESMATICAL, a. Pertaining to telesms; magical.
TELESTIC, n. [Gr. end, and a verse.] A poem in which the final letters of the lines make a name.
TELL, v.t. pret. and pp. told. [L. telum; L. appello and peal, L. pello.]
1. To utter; to express in words; to communicate to others.
I will not eat till I have told my errand. Genesis 24:33.
2. To relate; to narrate; to rehearse particulars; as, to tell a story. Genesis 37:5.
And not a man appears to tell their fate.
3. To teach; to inform; to make known; to show by words. Tell us the way.
Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Genesis 12:18.
4. To discover; to disclose; to betray.
They will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. Numbers 14:14.
5. To count; to number.
Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars. Genesis 15:5.
6. To relate in confession; to confess or acknowledge.
Tell me now what thou hast done. Joshua 7:19.
7. To publish.
Tell it not in Gath. 2 Samuel 1:20.
8. To unfold; to interpret; to explain. Ezekiel 24:19.
9. To make excuses.
Tush, never tell me. [Not elegant.]
10. To make known.
Our feelings tell us how long they ought to have submitted.
11. To discover; to find; to discern. The colors are so blended that I cannot tell where one ends and the other begins.
Tell, though equivalent in some respects to speak and say, has not always the same application. We say, to tell this, that or what, to tell a story, to tell a word, to tell truth or falsehood, to tell a number, to tell the reasons, to tell something or nothing; but we never say, to tell a speech, discourse or oration, or to tell an argument or a lesson. It is much used in commands. Tell me the whole story; tell me all you know, or all that was said. Tell has frequently the sense of narrate; which speak and say have not.
TELL, v.i. To give an account; to make report.
--That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalm 26:7.
To tell of
To tell on - to inform. You must not disobey; I will tell of you if you do. This is a common popular use of the word. To tell on, is quite vulgar as well as improper.
TELLER, n. One that tells, relates or communicates the knowledge of something.
1. One who numbers.
2. In the exchequer of England, there are four officers called tellers, whose business is to receive all moneys due to the crown, and throw down a bill through a pipe into the tally-court, where it is received by the auditor’s clerks, who write the words of the bill on a tally, and deliver it to be entered by the clerk of the pell. The tally is then split by the two deputy chamberlains, who have their seals, and while the senior deputy reads the one part, the junior examines the other with the other two clerks. [This word is supposed to be from tally, being in ancient records written tallier.]
TELLINITE, n. [from tellina, a genus of testaceous animals.]
Petrified or fossil shells of the genus Tellina.
TELL-TALE, a. Telling tales; babbling.
TELL-TALE, n. [tell and tale.] One who officiously communicates information of the private concerns of individuals; one who tells that which prudence should suppress, and which if told, often does mischief among neighbors.
1. A movable piece of ivory or lead on a chamber organ, that gives notice when the wind is exhausted.
2. In seamanship, a small piece of wood, traversing in a groove across the front of the poop deck, and which, by communicating with a small barrel on the axis of the steering wheel, indicates the situation of the helm.
TELLURATE, n. A compound of tellurium and a base.
TELLURETED, a. Tellureted hydrogen is hydrogen combined with tellurium in a gaseous form.
TELLURIUM, n. A metal recently discovered by Klaproth, combined with gold and silver in the ores, and received from the bannat of Temeswar. The ores are denominated native, graphic, yellow, and black. The native tellurium is of a color between tin and silver, and sometimes inclines to a steel gray. The graphic tellurium is stell gray; but sometimes white, yellow or lead gray. These ores are found massive or crystallized.
TEMACHIS, n. [Gr. a piece.] A genus of fossils of the class of gypsums, softer than others, and of a bright glittering hue.
TEMERARIOUS, a. [L. temerarius; from the root of time, tempest, which see. The sense is rushing or advancing forward.]
1. Rash; headstrong; unreasonably adventurous; despising danger; as temerarious folly.
2. Careless; heedless; done at random; as the temerarious dash of an unguided pen.
[This word is not much used.]
TEMERARIOUSLY, adv. Rashly; with excess of boldness.
TEMERITY, n. [L. temeritas; properly a rushing forward.]
1. Rashness; unreasonable contempt of danger; as the temerity of a commander in war.
2. Extreme boldness.
The figures are bold even to temerity.
TEMIN, n. A money of account in Algiers, equivalent to 2 carubes, or 29 aspers, about 34 cents, or 17d sterling.
TEMPER, v.t. [L. tempero, to mix or moderate]
1. To mix so that one part qualifies the other; to bring to a moderate state; as, to temper justice with mercy.
2. To compound; to form by mixture; to qualify, as by an ingredient; or in general, to mix, unite or combine two or more things so as to reduce the excess of the qualities of either, and bring the whole to the desired consistence or state.
Thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy. Exodus 30:35.
3. To unite in due proportion; to render symmetrical; to adjust, as parts to each other.
God hath tempered the body together. 1 Corinthians 12:24.
4. To accommodate; to modify.
Thy sustenance serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking.
5. To soften; to mollify; to assuage; to soothe; to calm; to reduce any violence or excess.
Solon--labored to temper the warlike courages of the Athenians with sweet delights of learning.
Woman! nature made thee
To temper man; we had been brutes without you.
6. To form to a proper degree of hardness; as, to temper iron or steel.
The temper’d metals clash, and yield a silver sound.
7. To govern; a Latinism. [Not in use.]
8. In music, to modify or amend a false or imperfect concord by transferring to it a part of the beauty of a perfect one, that is, by dividing the tones.
TEMPER, n. Due mixture of different qualities; or the state of any compound substance which results from the mixture of various ingredients; as the temper of mortar.
1. Constitution of body. [In this sense we more generally use temperament.]
2. Disposition of mind; the constitution of the mind, particularly with regard to the passions and affections; as a calm temper; a hasty temper; a fretful temper. This is applicable to beasts as well as to man.
Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard and judg’d.
3. Calmness of mind; moderation.
Restore yourselves unto your tempers, fathers.
To fall with dignity, with temper rise.
4. Heat of mind or passion; irritation. The boy showed a great deal of temper when I reproved him.
So we say, a man of violent temper, when we speak of his irritability. [This use of the word is common, though a deviation from its original and genuine meaning.]
5. The state of a metal, particularly as to its hardness; as the temper of iron or steel.
6. Middle course; mean or medium.
7. In sugar works, white lime or other substance stirred into a clarifier filled with cane-juice, to neutralize the super abundant acid.
TEMPERAMENT, n. [L. temperamentum.]
1. Constitution; state with respect to the predominance of any quality; as the temperament of the body.
Bodies are denominated hot and cold, in proportion to the present temperament of that part of our body to which they are applied.
2. Medium; due mixture of different qualities.
The common law--has reduced the kingdom to its just state and temperament.
3. In music, temperament is an operation which, by means of a slight alteration in the intervals, causes the difference between two contiguous sounds to disappear, and makes each of them appear identical with the other.
Temperament is the accommodation or adjustment of the imperfect sounds, by transferring a part of their defects to the more perfect ones, to remedy in part the false intervals of instruments of fixed sounds, as the organ, harpsichord, forte piano, etc.
The harshness of a given concord increases with the temperament.
TEMPERAMENTAL, a. Constitutional. [Not much used.]
TEMPERANCE, n. [L. temperantia, from tempero.]
1. Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.
2. Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.
He calm’d his wrath with goodly temperance. [Unusual.]
TEMPERATE, a. [L. temperatus.] Moderate; not excessive; as temperate heat; a temperate climate; temperate air.
1. Moderate in the indulgence of the appetites and passions; as temperate in eating and drinking; temperate in pleasures; temperate in speech.
Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy.
2. Cool; calm; not marked with passion; not violent; as a temperate discourse or address; temperate language.
3. Proceeding from temperance; as temperate sleep.
4. Free from ardent passion.
She is not hot, but temperate as the morn.
Temperate zone, the space on the earth between the tropics and the polar circles, where the heat is less than in the tropics, and the cold less than in the polar circles.
TEMPERATELY, adv. Moderately; without excess or extravagance.
1. Calmly; without violence of passion; as, to reprove one temperately.
2. With moderate force.
Winds that temperately blow.
TEMPERATENESS, n. Moderation; freedom from excess; as the temperateness of the weather or of a climate.
1. Calmness; coolness of mind.
TEMPERATIVE, a. Having the power or quality of tempering.
TEMPERATURE, n. [L. temperature.]
1. In physics, the state of a body with regard to heat or cold, as indicated by the thermometer; or the degree of free caloric which a body possesses, when compared with other bodies. When a body applied to another, either excites the sensation of heat, or expands that body, we say it is of a higher temperature; that is, it possesses more free caloric. When it excites the sensation of cold, or contracts another body, it is said to be of a lower temperature. Thus we speak of the temperature of air, of water, of a climate, etc.; two countries of the same temperature.
2. Constitution; state; degree of any quality.
Memory depends upon the consistence and temperature of the brain.
3. Moderation; freedom from immoderate passions.
In that proud port, which her so goodly graceth,
Most goodly temperature you may descry.
[Not in use.]
TEMPERED, pp. Duly mixed or modified; reduced to a proper state; softened; allayed; hardened.
1. Adjusted by musical temperament.
2. a. Disposed; as a well tempered, good tempered, or bad tempered man.
TEMPERING, ppr. Mixing and qualifying; qualifying by mixture; softening; mollifying; reducing to a state of moderation; hardening.
TEMPEST, n. [L. tempestas; tempus, time, season. The primary sense of tempus, time, is a falling, or that which falls, comes or happens, from some verb which signifies to fall or come suddenly, or rather to drive, to rush. Time is properly a coming, a season, that which presents itself, or is present. The sense of tempest, is from the sense of rushing or driving. See Temerity and Temerarious.]
1. An extensive current of wind, rushing with great velocity and violence; a storm of extreme violence. We usually apply the word to a steady wind of long continuance; but we say also of a tornado, it blew a tempest. The currents of wind are named, according to their respective degrees of force or rapidity, a breeze, a gale, a storm, a tempest; but gale is also used as synonymous with storm, and storm with tempest. Gust is usually applied to a sudden blast of short duration. A tempest may or may not be attended with rain, snow or hail.
We, caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurl’d
Each on his rock transfix’d--
2. A violent tumult or commotion; as a popular or political tempest; the tempest of war.
3. Perturbation; violent agitation; as a tempest of the passions.
TEMPEST, v.t. To disturb as by a tempest of the passions. [Little used.]
TEMPEST-BEATEN, a. [tempest and beat.]
Beaten or shattered with storms.
TEMPESTIVITY, n. [L. tempestivus.] Seasonableness. [Not in use.]
TEMPEST-TOST, a. [tempest and tost.] Tossed or driven about by tempests.
TEMPESTUOUS, a.
1. Very story; turbulent; rough with wind; as tempestuous weather; a tempestuous night.
2. Blowing with violence; as a tempestuous wind.
TEMPESTUOUSLY, adv. With great violence of wind or great commotion; turbulently.
TEMPESTUOUSNESS, n. Storminess; the state of being tempestuous or disturbed by violent winds; as the tempestuousness of the winter or of weather.
TEMPLAR, n. [from the Temple, a house near the Thames, which originally belonged to the knights Templars. The latter took their denomination from an apartment of the palace of Baldwin II. in Jerusalem, near the temple.]
1. A student of the law.
2. Templars, knights of the Temple, a religious military order, first established at Jerusalem in favor of pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. The order originated with some persons who, in 1118, devoted themselves to the service of God, promising to live in perpetual chastity, obedience and poverty, after the manner of canons. In 1228, this order was confirmed in the council of Troyes, and subjected to a rule of discipline. It flourished, became immensely rich, and its members became so insolent and vicious, that the order was suppressed by the council of Vienne, in 1312.
TEMPLE, n. [L. templum.]
1. A public edifice erected in honor of some deity. Among pagans, a building erected to some pretended deity, and in which the people assembled to worship. Originally, temples were open places, as the Stonehenge in England. In Rome, some of the temples were open, and called sacella; others were roofed, and called oedes. The most celebrated of the ancient pagan temples were that of Belus in Babylon, that of Vulcan at Memphis, that of Jupiter at Thebes, that of Diana at Ephesus, that of Apollo in Miletus, that of Jupiter Olympius in Athens, and that of Apollo at Delphi. The most celebrated and magnificent temple erected to the true God, was that built by Solomon in Jerusalem.
In Scripture, the tabernacle is sometimes called by this name. 1 Samuel 1:9; 1 Samuel 3:3.
2. A church; an edifice erected among christians as a place of public worship.
Can he whose life is a perpetual insult to the authority of God, enter with any pleasure a temple consecrated to devotion and sanctified by prayer?
3. A place in which the divine presence specially resides; the church as a collective body. Ephesians 2:21.
4. In England, the Temples are two inns of court, thus called because anciently the dwellings of the knights Templars. They are called the Inner and the Middle Temple.
TEMPLE, n. [L. tempus, tempora. The primary sense of the root of this word is to fall. See Time.]
1. Literally, the fall of the head; the part where the head slopes from the top.
2. In anatomy, the anterior and lateral part of the head, where the skull is covered by the temporal muscles.
TEMPLE, v.t. To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to. [Little used.]
TEMPLET, n. A piece of timber in a building; as a templet under a girder.
TEMPORAL, a. [L. temporalis, from tempus, time.]
1. Pertaining to this life or this world or the body only; secular; as temporal concerns; temporal affairs. In this sense, it is opposed to spiritual. Let not temporal affairs or employments divert the mind from spiritual concerns, which are far more important.
In this sense also it is opposed to ecclesiastical; as temporal power, that is, secular, civil or political power; temporal courts, those which take cognizance of civil suits. Temporal jurisdiction is that which regards civil and political affairs.
2. Measured or limited by time, or by this life or this state of things; having limited existence; opposed to eternal.
The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.
3. In grammar, relating to a tense; as a temporal augment.
4. Pertaining to the temple or temples of the head; as the temporal bone; a temporal artery or vein; temporal muscle.
TEMPORALITIES, TEMPORALS, n. Secular possessions; revenues of an ecclesiastic proceeding from lands, tenements, or lay-fees, tithes and the like. It is opposed to spiritualities.
TEMPORALLY, adv. With respect to time or this life only.
TEMPORALNESS, n. Worldliness. [Not used.]
TEMPORALTY, n. The laity; secular people. [Little used.]
1. Secular possessions. [See Temporalities.]
TEMPORANEOUS, a. Temporary. [Little used.]
TEMPORARILY, adv. For a time only; not perpetually.
TEMPORARINESS, n. [from temporary.] The state of being temporary; opposed to perpetuity.
TEMPORARY, a. [L. temporarius.] Lasting for a time only; existing or continuing for a limited time; as, the patient has obtained temporary relief. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. There is a temporary supply of provisions. In times of great danger, Rome appointed a temporary dictator.
TEMPORIZATION, n. The act of temporizing.
TEMPORIZE, v.i. [L. tempus, time.]
1. To comply with the time or occasion; to humor or yield to the current of opinion or to circumstances; a conduct that often indicates obsequiousness.
They might their grievance inwardly complain,
But outwardly they needs must temporize.
2. To delay; to procrastinate.
Well, you till temporize with the hours. [Little used.]
3. To comply. [Not in use.]
TEMPORIZER, n. One who yields to the time, or complies with the prevailing opinions, fashions or occasions; a trimmer.
TEMPORIZING, ppr. Complying with the time, or with the prevailing humors and opinions of men; time-serving.
TEMPT, v.t. [L. tento; teneo; Gr. the primary sense is to strain, urge, press.]
1. To incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement.
My lady Gray tempts him to this harsh extremity.
Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. James 1:14.
2. To provoke; to incite.
Tempt not the brave and needy to despair.
3. To solicit; to draw; without the notion of evil.
Still his strength conceal’d,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
4. To try; to venture on; to attempt.
E’er leave be giv’n to tempt the nether skies.
5. In Scripture, to try; to prove; to put to trial for proof.
God did tempt Abraham. Genesis 22:1.
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 6:16.
TEMPTABLE, a. Liable to be tempted.
TEMPTATION, n. The act of tempting; enticement to evil by arguments, by flattery, or by the offer of some real or apparent good.
When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 4:13.
1. Solicitation of the passions; enticements to evil proceeding from the prospect of pleasure or advantage.
2. The state of being tempted or enticed to evil. When by human weakness you are led into temptation, resort to prayer for relief.
3. Trial.
Lead us not into temptation.
4. That which is presented to the mind as an inducement to evil.
Dare to be great without a guilty crown,
View it, and lay the bright temptation down.
5. In colloquial language, an allurement to any thing indifferent, or even good.
TEMPTED, pp. Enticed to evil; provoked; tried.
TEMPTER, n. One that solicits or entices to evil.
Those who are bent to do wickedly, will never want tempters to urge them on.
1. The great adversary of man; the devil. Matthew 4:3.
TEMPTING, ppr. Enticing to evil; trying.
1. a. Adapted to entice or allure; attractive; as tempting pleasures.
TEMPTINGLY, adv. In a manner to entice to evil; so as to allure.
TEMPTRESS, n. A female who entices.
TEMSEBREAD, TEMSED-BREAD, n. Bread made of flour better sifted than common flour. [I know not where this word is used.]
TEMULENCE, TEMULENCY, n. [L. temulentia.] Intoxication; inebriation; drunkenness. [Not used.]
TEMULENT, a. [L. temulentus.] Intoxicated. [Not in use.]
TEMULENTIVE, a. Drunken; in a state of inebriation. [Not in use.]
TEN, a. [L. decem.]
1. Twice five; nine and one.
With twice ten sail I cross’d the Phrygian sea.
2. It is a kind of proverbial number.
There’s a proud modesty in merit,
Averse to begging, and resolv’d to pay
Ten times the gift it asks.
The meaning in this use is, a great deal more, indefinitely.
TENABLE, a. [L. teneo, to hold. See Tenant.]
That may be held, maintained or defended against an assailant, or against attempts to take it; as a tenable fortress. The works were not deemed tenable. The ground taken in the argument is not tenable.
TENACIOUS, a. [L. tenax, from teneo, to hold.]
1. Holding fast, or inclined to hold fast; inclined to retain what is in possession; as men tenacious of their just rights. Men are usually tenacious of their opinions, as well as of their property.
2. Retentive; apt to retain long what is committed to it; as a tenacious memory.
3. Adhesive; apt to adhere to another substance; as oily, glutinous or viscous matter. Few substances are to tenacious as tar.
4. Niggardly; close fisted.
TENACIOUSLY, adv. With a disposition to hold fast what is possessed.
1. Adhesively.
2. Obstinately; with firm adherence.
TENACIOUSNESS, n. The quality of holding fast; unwillingness to quit, resign or let go; as a man’s tenaciousness of his rights or opinions.
2. Adhesiveness; stickiness; as the tenaciousness of clay or glue.
3. Retentiveness; as the tenaciousness of memory.
TENACITY, n. [L. tenacitas, from teneo, to hold.]
1. Adhesiveness; that quality of bodies which makes them stick or adhere to others; glutinousness; stickiness; as the tenacity of oils, of glue, of tar, of starch and the like.
2. That quality of bodies which keeps them from parting; without considerable force; cohesiveness; the effect of attraction; opposed to brittleness or fragility.
TENACY, n. Tenaciousness. [Not in use.]
TENAIL, n. [L. teneo, to hold.] In fortification, an outwork consisting of two parallel sides with front, in which is a re-entering angle. It is simple or double.
TENAILLON, n. In fortification, tenaillons are works constructed on each side of the ravelins, like the lunets, but differing in this, that one of the faces of the tenaillon is in the direction of the ravelin, whereas that of the lunet is perpendicular to it.
TENANCY, n. [L. tenens.] In law, a holding or possession of lands or tenements; tenure; as tenancy in fee simple; tenancy in tail; tenancy by the curtesy; tenancy at will. Tenancy in common happens where there is a unity of possession merely.
TENANT, n. [L. teneo; Gr. to strain, stretch, extend.]
1. A person holding land or other real estate under another, either by grant, lease or at will; one who has the occupation or temporary possession of lands or tenements whose title is in another; as a tenant in tail; tenant in common; tenant by the curtesy; tenant in parcenary; tenant for life; tenant at will; tenant in dower.
2. One who has possession of any place; a dweller.
The happy tenant of your shade.
Tenant in capite, or tenant in chief, by the laws of England, is one who holds immediately of the king. According to the feudal system, all lands in England are considered as held immediately or mediately of the king, who is stiled lord paramount. Such tenants however are considered as having the fee of the lands and permanent possession.
TENANT, v.t. To hold or possess as a tenant.
Sir Roger’s estate is tenanted by persons who have served him or his ancestors.
TENANTABLE, a. Fit to be rented; in a state of repair suitable for a tenant.
TENANTED, pp. Held by a tenant.
TENANTING, ppr. Holding as a tenant.
TENANTLESS, a. Having no tenant; unoccupied; as a tenantless mansion.
TENANTRY, n. The body of tenants; as the tenantry of a manor or a kingdom.
1. Tenancy. [Not in use.]
TENCH, n. [L. tinca.] A fish of the genus Cyprinus, found in ponds and rivers.
TEND, v.t. [contracted from attend, L. attendo; ad and tendo, to stretch.]
1. To watch; to guard; to accompany as an assistant or protector.
And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Their earthly charge--
There is a pleasure in that simplicity, in beholding princes tending their flocks.
2. To hold and take care of; as, to tend a child.
3. To be attentive to.
Unsuck’d of lamb or kid that tend their play.
TEND, v.t. [L. tendo; teneo.]
1. To move in a certain direction.
Having overheard two gentlemen tending towards that sight--
Here Dardanus was born, and hither tends.
2. To be directed to any end or purpose; to aim at; to have or give a leaning.
The laws of our religion tend to the universal happiness of mankind.
3. To contribute. Our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction.
4. [for attend.] To attend; to wait as attendants or servants.
He tends upon my father. [Colloquial.]
5. To attend as something inseparable. [Not in use.]
6. To wait; to expect. [Not in use.]
7. To swing round an anchor, as a ship.
TENDANCE, n. Attendance; state of expectation.
1. Persons attending.
2. Act of waiting; attendance.
3. Care; act of tending.
[This word is entirely obsolete in all its senses. We now use attendance.]
TENDED, pp. Attended; taken care of; nursed; as an infant, or a sick person.
TENDENCY, n. [from tend; L. tendens, tending.] Drift; direction or course towards any place, object, effect or result. Read such books only as have a good moral tendency. Mild language has a tendency to allay irritation.
Writings of this kind, if conducted with candor, have a more particular tendency to the good of their country.
TENDER, n. [from tend.] One that attends or takes care of; a nurse.
1. A small vessel employed to attend a larger one for supplying her with provisions and other stores, or to convey intelligence and the like.
2. In law, an offer, either of money to pay a debt, or of service to be performed, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture which would be incurred by non-payment or non-performance; as the tender of rent due, or of the amount of a note or bond with interest. To constitute a legal tender, such money must be offered as the law prescribes; the offer of bank notes is not a legal tender. So also the tender must be at the time and place where the rent or debt ought to be paid, and it must be to the full amount due.
There is also a tender of issue in pleadings, a tender of an oath, etc.
3. Any offer for acceptance. The gentleman made me a tender of his services.
4. The thing offered. This money is not a legal tender.
5. Regard; kind concern. [Not in use.]
TENDER, v.t. [L. tendo.]
1. To offer in words; or to exhibit or present for acceptance.
All conditions, all minds tender down
Their service to lord Timon.
2. To hold; to esteem.
Tender yourself more dearly. [Not in use.]
3. To offer in payment or satisfaction of a demand, for saving a penalty or forfeiture; as, to tender the amount of rent or debt.
TENDER, a. [L. tener; allied probably to thin, L. tenuis.]
1. Soft; easily impressed, broken, bruised or injured; not firm or hard; as tender plants; tender flesh; tender grapes. Deuteronomy 32:2; Song of Solomon 2:13, 15.
2. Very sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Our bodies are not naturally more tender than our faces.
3. Delicate; effeminate; not hardy or able to endure hardship.
The tender and delicate woman among you. Deuteronomy 28:56.
4. Weak; feeble; as tender age. Genesis 33:13.
5. Young and carefully educated. Proverbs 4:3.
6. Susceptible of the softer passions, as love, compassion, kindness; compassionate; pitiful; easily affected by the distresses of another, or anxious for another’s good; as the tender kindness of the church; a tender heart.
7. Compassionate; easily excited to pity, forgiveness or favor.
The Lord is pitiful, and of tender mercy. James 5:11; Luke 1:78.
8. Exciting kind concern.
I love Valentine;
His life’s as tender to me as his soul.
9. Expressive of the softer passions; as a tender strain.
10. Careful to save inviolate, or not to injure; with of. Be tender of your neighbor’s reputation.
The civil authority should be tender of the honor of God and religion.
11. Gentle; mild; unwilling to pain.
You that are so tender o’er his follies,
Will never do him good.
12. Apt to give pain; as, that is a tender subject; things that are tender and unpleasing.
13. Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; pathetic; as tender expressions; tender expostulations.
TENDERED, pp. Offered for acceptance.
TENDER-HEARTED, a. [tender and heart.]
1. Having great sensibility; susceptible of impressions or influence.
--When Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them. 2 Chronicles 13:7.
2. Very susceptible of the softer passions of love, pity or kindness.
Be ye kind one to another, and tender-hearted. Ephesians 4:32.
TENDER-HEARTEDNESS, n. Susceptibility of the softer passions.
TENDERING, ppr. Offering for acceptance.
TENDERLING, n. A fondling; one made tender by too much kindness.
1. The first horns of a deer.
TENDERLOIN, n. A tender part of flesh in the hind quarter of beef.
TENDERLY, adv. With tenderness; mildly; gently; softly; in a manner not to injure or give pain.
Brutus tenderly reproves.
1. Kindly; with pity or affection.
TENDERNESS, n. The state of being tender or easily broken, bruised or injured; softness; brittleness; as the tenderness of a thread; the tenderness of flesh.
1. The state of being easily hurt; soreness; as the tenderness of flesh when bruised or inflamed.
2. Susceptibility of the softer passions; sensibility.
Well we know your tenderness of heart.
3. Kind attention; anxiety for the good of another, or to save him from pain.
4. Scrupulousness; caution; extreme care or concern not to give or to commit offense; as tenderness of conscience.
5. Cautious care to preserve or not to injure; as a tenderness of reputation.
6. Softness of expression; pathos.
TENDING, ppr. Having a certain direction; taking care of.
TENDING, n. In seaman’s language, a swinging round or movement of a ship upon her anchor.
TENDINOUS, a. [L. tendines, tendons, from tendo, to stretch.]
1. Pertaining to a tendon; partaking of the nature of tendons.
2. Full of tendons; sinewy; as nervous and tendinous parts.