tendresse

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French tendresse

Noun

tendresse (plural tendresses)

  1. tenderness, gentle intimacy or affection
    • 1974 February 2, Jonathan Cross, “Poor Butterfly”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 4:
      When Papillon makes his last impossible try for freedom they embrace with the tendresse of lovers, however manly and platonic.
    • 2023 January 11, Peter Bradshaw, “Tár review – Cate Blanchett is perfect lead in delirious, sensual drama”, in The Guardian‎[1], →ISSN:
      Tár has furthermore conceived a tendresse for a new cellist.

French

Etymology

From tendre +‎ -esse. Compare Occitan and Catalan tendresa, Italian tenerezza, Aromanian tinireatsã, Old Sicilian tinirizza, Romanian tinerețe, Spanish and Portuguese terneza.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tɑ̃.dʁɛs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛs
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

tendresse f (plural tendresses)

  1. Tenderness, state of being tender.

Further reading

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