Lewis & Short

tĕnĕrĭtas, ātis, f. [v. teneo; cf. tenuis, and Sanscr. tanu], softness, tenderness.

  1. I. Lit.: uvarum, Plin. 15, 24, 29, § 100: brassicae, id. 19, 8, 41, § 141: gemmae, id. 37, 7, 28, § 101: hujus jecori teneritas nulla praefertur, id. 9, 42, 67, § 143.
  2. II. Trop.: in primo ortu (rerum) inest teneritas et mollities quaedam, * Cic. Fin. 5, 21, 58 aetatis, Vitr. 4, 1 med.: teneritas Corinthiorum (opp. severus mos Doricorum), id. 1, 2 med.