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Difficulty: HardSecondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings

Read the excerpt from an analysis of nineteenth-century diplomatic history:

"In her monograph on European diplomacy, Dr. Sterling observes that the ambassador did not intend to escalate hostilities during the crisis; rather, by dispatching a special envoy, he sought merely to tender an official statement of terms to the opposing cabinet, thereby inviting diplomatic dialogue before hostilities could commence."

Which of the following best defines the word "tender" as it is used in the excerpt?

  1. Proffer or present formally for considerationAnswer
  2. B
    Express gentle or sympathetic regard
  3. C
    Surrender military authority completely
  4. D
    Enforce legally binding treaty obligations
  5. E
    Calculate monetary costs or compensation

Answer

Proffer or present formally for consideration
In the excerpt, 'tender' acts as a formal verb meaning to present, proffer, or submit officially for consideration (as in tendering a resignation or tendering terms). The ambassador is using a special envoy to deliver a statement of terms to initiate negotiations, making 'proffer or present formally for consideration' the correct definition.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the part of speech and structural position of the target word.
The word 'tender' follows the infinitive marker 'to' in the clause 'to tender an official statement of terms', indicating it functions as a transitive verb.
Identifying the part of speech immediately rules out definitions associated with 'tender' as an adjective (e.g., gentle, delicate).
2
Analyze surrounding contextual clues in the excerpt.
The subject ('the ambassador') dispatches an envoy to deliver a 'statement of terms' to an opposing cabinet to invite dialogue.
The surrounding action indicates an official act of presenting or extending an offer/proposal to another party.
3
Select the secondary meaning of the target word that satisfies the context.
The verb 'tender' secondary definition means 'to offer or present formally for acceptance or consideration', matching the context perfectly.
This secondary meaning fulfills the logical requirements of diplomatic negotiation.

Key Concept

Secondary verb usage of polysemous words in formal and academic contexts
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Topics

Secondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings

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