tenderly

From tender +‎ -ly.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɛn.dɚ.li/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɛn.də.li/
• Hyphenation: ten‧der‧ly

• Audio (US):

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tenderly (comparative more tenderly, superlative most tenderly)

1. In a tender manner; gently; sweetly.
   • 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

     and the hour striking at which I was oblig'd to dispatch my young man, I tenderly advised him of the necessity there was for parting

   • 2019, “Sinking”, performed by Clairo:

     Outside is getting colder
     Why does it feel like I'm older than I asked to be?
     But when you say my name
     It all falls away so tenderly

• tendrely