Obs. rare–1. [ad. L. teneritūdo, f. tener tender.] Tenderness, softness. So † Tenerity Obs. [ad. L. teneritās], in same sense; † Tenerous a. Obs. [f. L. tener + -OUS], tender.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., VI. 157. So wol their fatnesse and *teneritude With hem be stille.
1623. Cockeram, *Teneritie, softnesse, tendernesse.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. III. lviii. Faithfulnesse, heart-struck teneritie; These be the lovely playmates of pure veritie.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Tenerity, a Philosophical Word for Tenderness; as ‘The tenerity of Young Plants.’
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 34/1. Engendring a *tenerouse fleshe, which by little and little, hardeneth.
