a. Originally, A vessel commissioned to attend men-of-war, chiefly for supplying provisions and munitions of war, also for conveying intelligence, dispatches, etc. Subsequently, in the British Royal Navy, A vessel commissioned to act (in any capacity) under the orders of another vessel, her officers and crew being borne on the ship's books of the latter (called the parent ship).‘In current use the term includes torpedo-boats and torpedo-boat destroyers. All the ‘destroyers’ of a flotilla are technically tenders of the depôt-ship, although this exists merely in order to carry stores for them, and the necessary staff for doing their clerical work’ ( N.E.D.)

b. In general use, A small ship used to carry passengers, luggage, mails, goods, stores, etc., to or from a larger vessel (usually a liner), esp. when not otherwise accessible from shore. Also, in U.S., a boat or ship attending on fishing or whaling ships, to carry supplies to them, and to bring the fish, oil, or whalebone, to the ports or landing-places.

c. figurative.

a. A formal offer duly made by one party to another. tender of amends, an offer of compensation by the delinquent party. tender of issue, a plea which in effect invites the adverse party to join issue upon it.

b. spec. An offer of money, or the like, in discharge of a debt or liability, esp. an offer which thus fulfils the terms of the law and of the liability. plea of tender, a plea advanced by a defendant that he has always been ready to pay and has tendered to the plaintiff the amount due, which he now produces in court.

a. An offer made in writing by one party to another (usually to a public body) to execute, at an exclusive price or uniform rate, an order for the supply or purchase of goods, or for the execution of work, the details of which have been submitted, often through the public press, by the second party.

b. tender offer n. U.S. see quot. 1979; usually for the purpose of obtaining effective control.

a. transitive. Law. To offer or advance (a plea, issue, averment; evidence, etc.) in due and formal terms; spec. to offer (money, etc.) in discharge of a debt or liability, esp. in exact fulfilment of the requirements of the law and of the obligation.

†b. tender down v. Obsolete rare to lay down (money) in payment: cf. to pay down at pay v.¹ Phrasal verbs. Also transferred.

a. gen. To present (anything) for approval and acceptance; to offer, proffer.

b. to tender an oath, to offer or present an oath to a person, that he may take it; to put it to anyone to take an oath. (Rarely to take the oath: quot. 1838.)

†c. To offer to do something. Obsolete. rare.

a. To render gentle, compassionate, or contrite; to soften. ? Obsolete exc. among Quakers.

†b. To make less stringent or strict; to mitigate. Obsolete. rare.

c. To make tender or delicate. Now dialect.

d. To make (physically) tender, soft, or weak; to soften, weaken. Now dialect and technical.

a. To have a tender regard for, to hold dear; to be concerned for or solicitous about; to treat with consideration; to regard, care for, value, esteem. archaic. See also 3f.

†b. To regard or receive favourably; to attend to or comply with (a request) graciously. Obsolete.

†c. To regard or treat with pity; to take pity on, have mercy on; to feel or show compassion for.