tender

In one's youth; at a young age. I'm not surprised to hear that he was doing science experiments at a tender age—he's a child genius!

At the young age of. This phrase is used to emphasize how young one was when one did something in particular. The age is stated after "of." I'm not surprised to hear that he was doing science experiments at the tender age of seven—he's a child genius!

To allow one to face the punishment or rebukes of another person who will not show them any mercy, kindness, or sympathy. The phrase is used ironically. I thought it would be best if I spoke to her, rather than leaving her to the principal's tender mercies. I don't have time to deal with this. I'll just leave them to Mrs. Tanner's tender mercies.

A youthful age. I'm not surprised to hear that he was doing science experiments at such a tender age—he's a child genius! I experienced my first true heartbreak at the tender age of 18.

Compassionate, caring, protective attention or treatment. Sometimes abbreviated to TLC, especially when using the term more jocularly or lightheartedly. A less common variant of the phrase "tender loving care." I find that giving these patients tender love and care is as beneficial to them as their medication, sometimes more so. Your plants just need a little tender love and care and they'll be green and healthy again in no time!

Compassionate, caring, protective attention or treatment. Sometimes abbreviated to TLC, especially when using the term more jocularly or lightheartedly. I find that giving these patients tender loving care is as beneficial to them as their medication, sometimes more so. Your plants just need a little tender loving care and they'll be green and healthy again in no time!

A specific youthful age. Sarah's a child genius. She was doing science experiments at the tender age of 10! I experienced my first true heartbreak at the tender age of 18.

the young age of... She left home at the tender age of 17 and got married to a rock singer.

to offer something (of value) for something. The shareholders were asked to tender one of their shares for two of the offering company's. I decided not to tender my shares.

to offer or present something to someone for something. Laura tendered payment to Gary for the tickets. Walter tendered the old shares to the company for new shares.

Submit to another's power or discretion, especially to an unsympathetic individual. Today this expression is always used ironically, as in We left him to the tender mercies of that stiff-necked, arrogant nurse. It alludes to a biblical passage (Proverbs 12:10): "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

A young age, as in It's a great advantage to learn languages at a tender age. [Early 1300s]

Also, TLC. Solicitous and compassionate care, as in These houseplants sure have had tender loving care, or Older house for sale, needs some renovation and TLC. Originally used to describe the work of care-givers such as nurses, this term today is often used ironically or euphemistically. [Second half of 1900s]

Literally, kind usage of someone. The phrase “tender mercies” comes from the Bible’s Book of Psalms (25:6), “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and they loving kindnesses.” Since at least 1900 or so the term has been used ironically, as in Stella Rimington’s At Risk (2004): “‘What would you have done if the guy had refused to give back the money?’ ‘Left him to your tender mercies,’ said Liz. . . . ‘We don’t do violence.’”

Acronym for tender loving care. In modern times this phrase is believed to have originated in a hospital or other sick-care setting, where it alludes to kind and solicitous treatment by nurses. From the mid-1900s on it caught on in a more general way, particularly among songwriters, according to wordsmith Nigel Rees, who found nearly a dozen songs with this title written between 1960 and 1983. Today the term, both spelled out and abbreviated, is applied to kind or gentle treatment for almost anything—a pet, person, plant, automobile, and so on. It has just about replaced the almost synonymous tea and sympathy, meaning special kindness shown to someone who is upset. This term was always most common in Britain, where a cup of tea is standard treatment in such situations. It gained currency as the title of a play by Robert Anderson and a motion picture based on it (1956) about a prep school boy’s affair with a teacher’s wife, but it has largely died out, at least in America.