in·ten·er·ate \ə̇n.ˈtenəˌrāt\transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology:in- (II)+ Latin tener soft, tender + English -ate — more at tender : to make tender or sensitive : soften < contrives to intenerate the granite — R.W.Emerson > • in·ten·er·a·tion\ə̇n.ˌtenəˈrāshən\noun-s