tenderness

noun

Etymology: From tender + -ness.

1. Quality, state or condition of being tender.

   “He picked her up in his arms with great tenderness.”

2. A tendency to express warm, compassionate feelings.

   “When the lovers were together, their cold indifference gave way to love and tenderness.”

   “I had known him jealous, suspicious; I had seen about him certain tendernesses, fitfulnesses—a softness which came like a warm air, and a ruth which passed like early dew, dried in the heat of his irritabilities: this was all I had seen.”

3. A concern for the feelings or welfare of others.

   “When they saw the poor orphans, they were overwhelmed with tenderness for them.”

   “Everybody needs a little tenderness sometimes.”

4. A pain or discomfort when an affected area is touched.

   “He noted her extreme tenderness when he touched the bruise on her thigh.”

   “Amies Oelschlager said in a statement that oral contraceptives that contain estrogen may cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, and breast tenderness.”