The spelling of "pencil tenderness" can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to help with pronunciation. "Pencil" is spelled /ˈpɛnsəl/, with emphasis on the first syllable, and pronounced with a short "e" sound. "Tenderness" is spelled /ˈtɛndərnəs/, with emphasis on the second syllable and pronounced with a short "e" sound in the first syllable and a schwa sound in the second syllable. The combination of these words creates a phrase that describes the gentleness required in handling a pencil.
Pencil tenderness refers to the physical quality or characteristic of softness, delicacy, or gentleness exhibited by a pencil or the marking it produces on a surface. It describes the ability of a pencil to create light, feathery, or subtle strokes with minimal pressure or force applied when writing, drawing, or shading. The term is derived from the comparison between the touch of a pencil and the daintiness associated with handling a pencil, much like a delicate object.
When a pencil exhibits pencil tenderness, it implies that it effortlessly glides across the page, leaving behind fine lines that convey a sense of finesse and delicateness. Pencil tenderness often indicates a desirable quality in artistic or creative endeavors where fine details, precision, or subtle shifts in shading are crucial. Artists, sketchers, drafters, and calligraphers might seek pencils known for their pencil tenderness to achieve graceful, intricate, or nuanced effects in their work.
This term can also extend beyond the physical quality of a pencil and describe the skillful technique employed by an individual when using it, particularly in regards to generating light or delicate marks. Pencil tenderness implies control, sensitivity, and a deft touch, enabling the user to create soft, refined lines that lend an air of elegance or subtlety to their artistic or written output.
Strictly localized tenderness, elicited by pressure with the rubber tip of a pencil, in cases of incomplete or subperiosteal fracture for example.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.