harbor vs tender

harbor

noun
  • A sheltered expanse of water, adjacent to land, in which ships may anchor or dock, especially for loading and unloading. 

  • Any place of shelter. 

  • A mixing box for materials. 

  • A harbor, even if it is a little harbor, is a good thing, since adventurers come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world, and has something to give in return - Sarah Orne Jewett 

verb
  • To take refuge or shelter in a protected expanse of water. 

  • To drive (a hunted stag) to covert. 

  • To hold or persistently entertain in one's thoughts or mind. 

  • To provide a harbor or safe place for. 

tender

noun
  • A naval ship that functions as a mobile base for other ships. 

  • Any offer or proposal made for acceptance. 

  • A smaller boat used for transportation between a large ship and the shore. 

  • A formal offer to buy or sell something. 

  • A railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel and water. 

  • A means of payment such as a check or cheque, cash or credit card. 

  • Anything which is offered, proffered, put forth or bid with the expectation of a response, answer, or reply. 

  • The inner flight muscle (pectoralis minor) of poultry. 

adv
  • tenderly 

verb
  • to offer a payment, as at sales or auctions. 

  • To offer, to give. 

  • To work on a tender. 

adj
  • Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate. 

  • Heeling over too easily when under sail; said of a vessel. 

  • Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained. 

  • Soft and easily chewed. 

  • Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate. 

  • Physically weak; not able to endure hardship. 

  • Sensitive or painful to the touch. 

  • Fond, loving, gentle, or sweet. 

  • Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic. 

  • Young and inexperienced. 

How often have the words harbor and tender occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )