I have a query I suspect can be answered in numerous, varied ways.
The other day I heard it said, "I will tender my resignation".
What is the root of that usage?
I see from the Dictionary (verb) definition it is used "to offer, to present". That seems quite odd to me.

Any comments?

I think of a resignation as being written rather than oral. So, perhaps what one is tendering is one's letter of resignation. Today people just get riffed (from RIF, reduction in Force). Tender is an interesting word. Three distinct meanings: (a) frail, sensitive, (b) to offer, (c) and a person who tends.

And related to "offer" there's the noun tender for coin/currency ("legal tender").

Here's what AHD4 says:

http://www.bartleby.com/61/30/T0103000.html

And it is a ship.

well, i think a ship that is a tender, is part of defination 3, (which should read a person or thing that tends)

Tenders, like tug boats, are ships that have specific duties. Tug boats tug barges (and in NY Harbor, tug large boats in and out of berths/channels (NYC harbor is a combinatin fyord/tidal estuary.. silt is a big problem. (see news stories about the Intrepid)

Tenders are boats that tend to ship that are not berthed at pier.

Still, its a very good call! aren't there also rail road cars called tenders? (same purpose as the ships, but another use of the word)

(a) frail, sensitive, (b) to offer, (c) and a person who tends.

(a) is a mere homonym of (b) and (c). It has a different latin root: the adjective tener(um) vs. the unrelated verb tendere

> rail road cars called tenders?

yeah, it's the car immediately behind a steam engine, with wood or coal in it to fuel the engine.

Quote:

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> rail road cars called tenders?

yeah, it's the car immediately behind a steam engine, with wood or coal in it to fuel the engine.

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That's correct. I always knew it as a "coal tender".