You see how all conditions, how all minds, . . . tender down Their
services to Lord Timon.
Shak.
Ten"der, n. 1. (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 nonpayment or nonperformance; as, the tender
of rent due, or of the amount of a note, with interest.
To constitute a legal tender, such money must be offered as the law
prescribes. 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.
2. Any offer or proposal made for acceptance; as, a tender of a loan,
of service, or of friendship; a tender of a bid for a contract.
A free, unlimited tender of the gospel.
South.
3. The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of an
obligation. Shak.
Legal tender. See under Legal. — Tender of issue (Law), a form of words
in a pleading, by which a party offers to refer the question raised
upon it to the appropriate mode of decision. Burrill.
Ten"der, a. [Compar. Tenderer (?); superl. Tenderest.] [F. tendre, L.
tener; probably akin to tenuis thin. See Thin.] 1. Easily impressed,
broken, bruised, or injured; not firm or hard; delicate; as, tender
plants; tender flesh; tender fruit.