---
title: tender — Early Modern English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tender» in the Early Modern English dictionary: Young, soft or delicate; in the first sentence it means a young calf, and in the third it means young, soft grass. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tender

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**Who acts:** Young, sentence, Abraham, tender, little feet, doctrine · **What happens:** mean, run, fetch, give, hasten, dress · **To what, where:** young calf, calf tender, tender · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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«tender» in the Early Modern English dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 3 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [tender in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/tender.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Young, soft or delicate; in the first sentence it means a young calf, and in the third it means young, soft grass.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:tender:m1:1
# text = Young, soft or delicate; in the first sentence it means a young calf, and in the third it means young, soft grass.
1	Young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	delicate	delicate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	10	amod	_	_
10	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	third	third	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
23	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Young | a young calf |  |  |  | in the first sentence | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot calf=Theme in sentence=Attribute |
| 2 | **mean** | present | sentence |  |  |  |  | in the third; young *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in third=Attribute |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.

<!-- .note -->
From Torah GEN.18.7, JPS 1917.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:tender:x1:1
# text = And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	Abraham	Abraham	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	unto	unto	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	herd	herd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	fetched	fetch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	calf	calf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	tender	tender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	unto	unto	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	hastened	hasten	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	dress	dress	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	xcomp	_	_
28	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | Abraham |  |  |  |  | unto the herd | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fetch** | past | Abraham *not said here* | a calf tender |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tender=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | past | Abraham *not said here* | tender |  |  |  | unto the servant | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 4 | **hasten** | past | Abraham |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **dress** | to-infinitive | Abraham *not said here* | tender |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were!

<!-- .note -->
From Andersen's Fairy Tales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:tender:x2:1
# text = Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were!
1	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	tender	tender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wearied	weary	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weary** | past | tender |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | past | tender's little feet |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb.

<!-- .note -->
From Torah DEU.32.2, JPS 1917.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:tender:x3:1
# text = My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	doctrine	doctrine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	drop	drop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	distil	distil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	dew	dew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
21	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	tender	tender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	as	as	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	showers	shower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	_
30	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	herb	herb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | shall | My doctrine |  |  |  |  | as the rain; as the small rain upon the tender grass and the showers upon the herb | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as rain=Attribute |
| 2 | **distil** | shall | my speech |  |  |  |  | as the dew | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **indoctrinate** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom doctrine «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |
| 4 | **speak** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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**Text:** the Early Modern English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova; its examples quote public-domain texts. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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