▪ I. intenerate, v. Now rare.
(ɪnˈtɛnəreɪt)
[f. L. type *intenerāre, f. in- (in-2) + tener tender: see -ate3. Cf. It. intenerire, OF. entendrir to become tender.]
trans. To make tender, soften, mollify (lit. and fig.).
| 1595 Daniel Sonn. x, Thou pow'r that rul'st the confines of the night..Intenerate that heart that sets so light The truest love that ever yet was seen! 1631 R. Brathwait Whimzies, Metall-man 62 Elixate your antimonie; intenerate your chrysocoll. 1637 Bp. Hall Remedy Prophanenesse ii. §13 Feare intenerates the heart, making it fit for all gracious impressions. 1668 Phil. Trans. III. 699 M. Garenciers observes of Sugar, how it intenerates the flesh. 1753 Johnson Pr. & Medit. 23 Apr. in Boswell, I hope they intenerate my heart. 1811 Self Instructor 536 To intenerate the hairs of wool. 1872 W. R. Greg Enigmas Life iv. 172 Prolonged abstinence from food..purifying, and intenerating the devotional part of our nature. |
Hence inˈtenerated, inˈtenerating ppl. adjs.
| a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 42 Mov'd by no Intenerating cries. 1822–34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 30 Perhaps, in refined and intenerated society, in the larger number, there is..disease of a..fatal character. a 1861 D. Gray Poet. Wks. (1874) 135 The teeming South Breathes life and warm intenerating balm. |
▪ II. inˈtenerate, ppl. a. rare.
[f. L. type *intenerātus, pa. pple.: see prec.]
Intenerated, softened.
| 1846 Worcester cites Richardson. |