different between slight vs tender

English

Etymology

From Middle English slight (“bad, of poor quality, unimportant, trivial, slender, slim, smooth, level”), from Old English sliht (“smooth, level”), from Proto-Germanic *slihtaz (“slippery, flat, level, plain”), related to English slick. Cognate with Scots slicht (“bad, of poor quality”), West Frisian sljocht (“smooth, level, plain, simple”), Dutch slecht (“bad”), Low German slecht (“bad”), German schlecht (“bad”) and schlicht (“plain, artless, natural”), Danish slet (“bad, evil, poor, nasty, wrong”), Swedish slät (“smooth”), Norwegian slett (“even”), Icelandic sléttur (“even, smooth, level”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: sl?t, IPA^(key): /sla?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): [sl?l?????]
• Rhymes: -a?t
• Homophone: sleight

Adjective

slight (comparative slighter, superlative slightest)

1. Small
   1. gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful

   2. not thorough; superficial

   3. trifling; unimportant; insignificant
      • 1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding

        Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.

   4. (archaic or rare) not far away in space or time

   Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny; see also Thesaurus:tiny, Thesaurus:insignificant

2. of slender build
   • 1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak

     his own figure, which was formerly so slight

   Synonyms: lithe, svelte, willowy; see also Thesaurus:slender

3. (regional) Even, smooth or level

   Synonyms: flat, glassy, slick; see also Thesaurus:smooth

4. (especially said of the sea) still; with little or no movement on the surface

5. (obsolete) Foolish; silly; not intellectual.

   Synonyms: daft, fatuous, soft in the head; see also Thesaurus:foolish

6. (regional, obsolete) Bad, of poor quality.
   • 1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings

     we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles

   Synonyms: flimsy, lousy, shoddy; see also Thesaurus:low-quality

7. (dated) Slighting; treating with disdain.

   Synonyms: contemptuous, disdainful, scornful; see also Thesaurus:disdainful

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

slight (third-person singular simple present slights, present participle slighting, simple past and past participle slighted)

1. (transitive) To treat as unimportant or not worthy of attention; to make light of.
   • 1782, William Cowper, Truth

     the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies

2. (transitive) To give lesser weight or importance to.
   • 1915, Josephine Turck Baker, Correct English (volumes 16-17, page 182)

     Incontiguously (accent on tig; the rest of the syllables slighted) means in an incontiguous manner.

   Synonym: belittle

   Antonyms: respect, value, esteem

3. (transitive) To treat with disdain or neglect, usually out of prejudice, hatred, or jealousy; to ignore disrespectfully.
   • 1833, Mary Shelley, The Mortal Immortal

     Though true of heart, she was somewhat of a coquette in manner; and I was jealous as a Turk. She slighted me in a thousand ways, yet would never acknowledge herself to be in the wrong. She would drive me mad with anger, and then force me to beg her pardon.

   Synonyms: contemn, despise

   Antonyms: respect, honor

4. (intransitive) To act negligently or carelessly. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
5. (transitive, military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
6. (transitive) To make even or level.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Hexham to this entry?)

7. (transitive) To throw heedlessly.

Derived terms

• slightingly

Translations

Noun

slight (plural slights)

1. The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

   Synonyms: ignoring, neglect, belittlement

   Antonym: respect

   • 1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

     Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.
2. (obsolete) Sleight.

   • For till that stownd could never wight him harme,
     By subtilty, nor slight, nor might, nor mighty charme.

Derived terms

• put a slight upon

Translations

Further reading

• The Dictionary of the Scots Language
• The Dictionary of the Scots Language
• The Middle English Dictionary

Anagrams

• lights

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English sliht, from Proto-Germanic *slihtaz.

Alternative forms

• sli?t, slei?te, sle?t, slyght, sleght, sleight, sly?t

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /slixt/, /sl?xt/
• Rhymes: -ixt

Adjective

slight

1. Level, even, smooth; having no bumps or lumps.
2. (rare) Of little importance or relevance.
3. (rare) Slim, narrow, skinny; of little breadth.
4. (rare) Badly made, poorly-built, or low-quality.

Descendants

• English: slight
• Scots: slicht
• Yola: sleight

References

• “slight, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-12-12.

Etymology 2

Noun

slight

1. Alternative form of sleight

Adjective

slight

1. Alternative form of sleight

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t?n.d?(?)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?t?n.d?/
  • (NYC) IPA^(key): /?t?n.d?/
• Rhymes: -?nd?(?)
• Hyphenation: ten?der
• Homophone: tinder (pin-pen merger)

Etymology 1

From Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”).

Adjective

tender (comparative tenderer, superlative tenderest)

1. Sensitive or painful to the touch.
   • 1597, William Shakespeare, All's Well that Ends Well, act III, scene 2:

     […] poore Lord, is't I
     That cha?e thee from thy Countrie, and expo?e
     Tho?e tender limbes of thine […]

   • 2006, Mike Myers (as the voice of the title character), Shrek (movie)

     Be careful: that area is tender.

2. Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.

3. Physically weak; not able to endure hardship.

   • the tender and delicate woman among you

4. (of food) Soft and easily chewed.
   • 2001, Joey Pantolino (character), The Matrix (movie)

     The Matrix is telling my brain this steak is tender, succulent, and juicy.

5. Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
6. Fond, loving, gentle, sweet.

   • The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

   • 1645, Thomas Fuller, Good Thoughts in Bad Times

     I am choleric by my nature, and tender by my temper.

7. Young and inexperienced.
   • 2001 October 15, Appeals Court of Illinios (Second District) in Appelhans v. McFall:

8. Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic.

9. Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate.
   • 1625, Francis Bacon, Of Cunning

     Things that are tender and unpleasing.

10. (nautical) Heeling over too easily when under sail; said of a vessel.
11. (obsolete) Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
12. (obsolete) Careful to keep inviolate, or not to injure; used with of.
    • 1790, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

      tender of property

    • a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Advantages of Religion to Societies

      The civil authority should be tender of the honour of God and religion.

Synonyms

• (soft, yielding, delicate): nesh
• See also Thesaurus:affectionate

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

tender (countable and uncountable, plural tenders)

1. (obsolete) Care, kind concern, regard.
2. The inner flight muscle (pectoralis minor) of poultry.

Etymology 2

From Middle English tender, tendur, tendir, tendre, from the adjective (see above).

Adverb

tender (comparative more tender, superlative most tender)

1. tenderly

   Love me tender, love me sweet
   Never let me go

Etymology 3

From Middle English tendren, from the adjective (see above).

Verb

tender (third-person singular simple present tenders, present participle tendering, simple past and past participle tendered)

1. (now rare) To make tender or delicate; to weaken.
   • , vol.I, New York, 2001, p.233:

     To such as are wealthy, live plenteously, at ease, […] these viands are to be forborne, if they be inclined to, or suspect melancholy, as they tender their healths […].

   • c. 1947, Putnam Fadeless Dyes [flyer packaged with granulated dye]:

     Putnam Fadeless Dyes will not injure any material. Boiling water does tender some materials. […] Also, silk fibers are very tender when wet and care should be take not to boil them too vigorously.

2. (archaic) To feel tenderly towards; to regard fondly or with consideration.
   • 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, London: William Jones,^[1]

     The angrie king hath banished me the court:

     And therefore as thou louest and tendrest me,

     Be thou my aduocate vnto these peeres.

   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 1 (First Folio edition):

     And ?o good Capulet, which name I tender

     As dearely as my owne, be ?atisfied.

Etymology 4

From tend +? -er.

Noun

tender (plural tenders)

1. (obsolete) Someone who tends or waits on someone.
2. (rail transport) A railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel and water.
   • 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter XII, p. 201, [2]

     Half the coal was out of the tender, half the fire out of the box, half the trucks were off the track, so violent was the stopping.

3. (nautical) A naval ship that functions as a mobile base for other ships.

4. (nautical) A smaller boat used for transportation between a large ship and the shore.

Synonyms

• (smaller boat): dinghy

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

tender (third-person singular simple present tenders, present participle tendering, simple past and past participle tendered)

1. To work on a tender.

Etymology 5

From Middle English tendren, from Old French tendre (“stretch out”).

Noun

tender (plural tenders)

1. Anything which is offered, proffered, put forth or bid with the expectation of a response, answer, or reply.

   • Herein, the Bard plays with the word "tender" most liberally. The boldened instance of the word is that which pertains to the instant sense.

3. A means of payment such as a check or cheque, cash or credit card.

5. (law) A formal offer to buy or sell something.

6. Any offer or proposal made for acceptance.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act II, Scene 3

     [...] if she should make tender of her love, 'tis very possible he'll scorn it; for the man,—as you know all,—hath a contemptible spirit.

Translations

See also

• legal tender
• put out to tender
• put out for tender

Verb

tender (third-person singular simple present tenders, present participle tendering, simple past and past participle tendered)

1. (formal) To offer, to give.
   • 1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston

     I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
2. to offer a payment, as at sales or auctions.

Synonyms

• offer

Derived terms

• tenderable
• tender something out

Translations

Anagrams

• enter'd, entred, rented, tendre

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English tender.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ten?der

Noun

tender m (plural tenders, diminutive tendertje n)

1. (finance) tender
2. (rail transport) coal-car

Synonyms

• (finance) aanbesteding

Descendants

• ? Indonesian: tender

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?t?nd?r]
• Hyphenation: tèn?dêr

Etymology 1

From Dutch tender, from English tender, from Middle English tendren, from Old French tendre (“stretch out”).

Noun

tèndêr (first-person possessive tenderku, second-person possessive tendermu, third-person possessive tendernya)

1. (trading) tender, anything which is offered, proffered, put forth or bid with the expectation of a response, answer, or reply.

Derived terms

Compounds

Etymology 2

From Dutch tender, from English tender, tend +? -er

Noun

tèndêr (first-person possessive tenderku, second-person possessive tendermu, third-person possessive tendernya)

1. (transport) tender, a railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel and water.

Further reading

• “tender” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) Daring, Jakarta: Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia, 2016.

Italian

Verb

tender

1. Apocopic form of tendere

Middle English

Noun

tender

1. Alternative form of tinder

Polish

Etymology

From English tender.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?n.d?r/

Noun

tender m inan

1. (rail transport) tender (railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel)
2. (nautical) tender (ship functioning as mobile base for other ships)

Declension

Derived terms

• (noun) tendrzak
• (adjective) tendrowy

Further reading

• tender in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• tender in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin tendere, present active infinitive of tend?, from Proto-Italic *tend?, from Proto-Indo-European *ten- (“to stretch, draw”).

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /t?.?de?/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /t?.?de(?)/

Verb

tender (first-person singular present indicative tendo, past participle tendido)

1. to tend
2. to trend

Conjugation

Related terms

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin tendere, present active infinitive of tend?, from Proto-Italic *tend?, from Proto-Indo-European *ten- (“to stretch, draw”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ten?de?/, [t??n??d?e?]

Verb

tender (first-person singular present tiendo, first-person singular preterite tendí, past participle tendido)

1. (intransitive) to tend to, to have a tendency
2. (transitive) to spread, to stretch out
3. (transitive) to lay (cable)
4. (transitive) to make (a bed)
5. (transitive) to hang up (clothes)
6. (transitive) to build (a bridge across an expanse)
7. (transitive) to extend (the hand)
8. (transitive) to floor (with a punch), to stretch out
9. (transitive) to cast (a net)
10. (transitive) to set (a trap)
11. (transitive) to coat (with plaster)
12. (reflexive) to lay oneself down

Conjugation

Derived terms

• tenderse
• tender una trampa (“to be set up, to be framed”)
• hay ropa tendida
• tendedero
• tendedor

Related terms