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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 am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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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
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And it is a ship. 
ÅΓª╥┐↕§
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Carpal Tunnel
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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)
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old hand
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old hand
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(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
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Quote:
> 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.
That's correct. I always knew it as a "coal tender".
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Carpal Tunnel
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All my life I aspired to being a guard at the prison. But I couldn't pass the writtentests. If I'd been studied more in school I coulda been a con tender.
TEd
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That must be the best gag posted all day! 
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Ted, I live and learn for here all of these years I have been under the misnomer that a prison guard was called a bar tender. 
Last edited by AlimaeHP; 12/02/06 12:35 AM.
Rev. Alimae
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a bar tender Mmf...[snort]...[giggle]...HA HA HA! OH, that is hilarious! 
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Anyone happen to notice that even the sponsor for this has the word tender within it? Lower left side corner of the page: Quote:
Sponsored by:
Auto Battery Tenders
Battery Tenders trickle charge auto, boat, ATV, RV. On Sale!
www.autogeek.net/batterytender.html
So I guess they will tender your effects if you will give them your tender.
Last edited by AlimaeHP; 12/02/06 06:35 AM.
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enthusiast
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Quote:
Anyone happen to notice that even the sponsor for this has the word tender within it?
Yes. Google's brilliant algorithm(s) at work.
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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