[syn: softheartedness, tenderness]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tenderness \Ten"der*ness\, n.
The quality or state of being tender (in any sense of the
adjective).
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Benignity; humanity; sensibility; benevolence; kindness;
pity; clemency; mildness; mercy.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
tenderness
n 1: a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
2: a pain that is felt (as when the area is touched); "the best
results are generally obtained by inserting the needle into
the point of maximum tenderness"; "after taking a cold,
rawness of the larynx and trachea come on" [syn:
tenderness, soreness, rawness]
3: warm compassionate feelings [syn: tenderness,
tenderheartedness]
4: a positive feeling of liking; "he had trouble expressing the
affection he felt"; "the child won everyone's heart"; "the
warmness of his welcome made us feel right at home" [syn:
affection, affectionateness, fondness, tenderness,
heart, warmness, warmheartedness, philia]
5: a feeling of concern for the welfare of someone (especially
someone defenseless) [syn: softheartedness, tenderness]