Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TEN'DER-NESS, n.

1. The state of being tender or easily broken, bruised, or injured; softness; brittleness; as, the tenderness of a thread; the tenderness of flesh.
2. The state of being easily hurt; soreness; as, the tenderness of flesh when bruised or inflamed.
3. Susceptibility of the softer passions; sensibility. Well we know your tenderness of heart. Shak.
4. Kind attention; anxiety for the good of another, or to save him from pain. Bacon.
5. Scrupulousness; caution; extreme care or concern not to give or to commit offense; as, tenderness of conscience. South.
6. Cautious care to preserve or not to injure; as, a tenderness of reputation. Gov. of the Tongue.
7. Softness of expression; pathos.